Harry grinned at Anakin, as they reached out and entwined their hands, distantly noticing the priest walking away. They were in a secluded beach house that Padme had suggested, with beautiful weather and good company. The senator had been more than willing to provide what she could for their little ceremony and was even here, standing right next to R2-D2, C-3PO and HK-47, as one of their human witnesses. Shmi Skywalker was grinning tearfully and occasionally wiping her eyes.

Padme Amidala had surprised them both by inviting Shmi to stay on Naboo, along with Shmi's new family. Though right now, it was just Shmi and Padme witnessing their union. Apparently, Padme had gone in secret to pick Shmi up, after catching Anakin and Harry kissing in a unlit hallway in one of the Republic's capital ships.

"I think now is where we're suppose to kiss," Anakin whispered, his blue eyes lit up with so much love. Their newly awakened bond was practically humming in their minds, filled with love and excitement. And weariness too but that was tucked further away. Both of them didn't want to think about the war just beginning in the galaxy around them or that the Jedi had lost so many of their people rescuing Padme, Anakin and Obi-Wan.

Harry smiled wider and stepped in to close the distance between them and grasped Anakin's chin, bringing the other young man into a kiss. Anakin groaned and melted into him, wrapping an arm around Harry's waist.

They pulled apart a minute later, both breathing heavily and content. Anakin could feel his heart beating fast and he knew that Harry was the same. He was distantly aware of Shmi and Padme walking off, back into the home. The two women were talking of where to relocate Shmi's family and he could feel Shmi's happiness in getting off Tatooine.

"There's something different about you," Harry whispered, wrapping his arms around Anakin as he thought about what the future would bring. He searched the other young man's face, trying to see what was different or new and not finding anything.

"I was knighted last night," Anakin murmured, his blue eyes lit up with glee. "Back at the temple."

Harry's eyes widened. "You're…"

"A Jedi Knight. Yeah."

"Congrats! You hid it from me on purpose, didn't you?"

Anakin's cheeks reddened as he looked at the ground briefly then looked back up. "I wanted to surprise you!"

Harry laughed and pulled him in for another kiss, this one deeper and intense than the one that they had done in front of witnesses. Anakin groaned and leaned into the other man, feeling the warmth of the man soak into him, parting his lips for Harry. Harry took full advantage, licking into his mouth and tightening his arms around him. One of his hands found its' way to grasp Anakin's neck, running his fingers through the hair at the back of Anakin's neck. Anakin whined at the contact and leaned into him further.

"You officially outrank me," Harry muttered bemusedly, his lips twitching up into a grin.

Anakin snorted and pulled away, elbowing Harry, as he tried to calm his breathing. Harry backing him up until he hit the railing on the balcony didn't help his breathing "I'll never outrank you. You've got your masters in both healing and defense! You're like the equivalent of a Jedi Master now! The council still doesn't trust me anyway."

"Ani," Harry started. "You're not alone in that. I don't think any Jedi that sits on that council trusts me either. I may fight alongside you in this coming war but I'm definitely too old to be trained as a Jedi. I'm 22."

"You held off Count Dooku with a lightsaber," Anakin retorted. "You count as a Jedi in my book."

Harry grinned. "Well, thank you."

Anakin returned the grin and drew out something from a pocket at his belt, holding it out within his closed palm. "I want you to have this."

Harry held out his hand, watched as Anakin opened his hand and whatever it was that he was holding fell into Harry's palm. It turned out to be Anakin's Padawan braid, chopped off and braided at the ends.

"Be careful," Harry said, standing out of the way of the clone troopers as they made ready to go. He and Anakin had just met Captain Rex, who would lead Anakin's squadron. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan were leaving, Jedi Generals taking off for war against the CIS. Senator Amidala had given Anakin R2-D2 and the astromech was rolling between the Republic capital ship and Anakin.

Yoda was right behind Harry so they kept the goodbye platonic. Harry had been so surprised in his meeting with Yoda a few days ago when they had gotten back from Naboo. Yoda had decided to start training Harry to be a Jedi, to the distrust of the other Jedi on the council. Harry was so much older than Anakin had been when they had barely given the Chosen One from Tatooine a chance. But Yoda had made the decision, saying that Harry already knew much of what they taught.

"You know I will," Anakin spoke, his eyes excited at the prospect of being a Jedi Knight and leading men into battle.

Harry raised an eyebrow then glanced over at Captain Rex, noting the blue pauldron on Rex's right shoulder and the blue jaig eyes on his helmet in his arms. He remembered running into a Mandalorian bounty hunter on Tatooine with Anakin when they were younger and asking what the eyes meant. "Keep an eye on General Skywalker,will you?"

Rex grinned. "Of course, General Potter."

"I'm a general, huh?"

"General, you are. Experience you have," Yoda spoke. "Jedi you may not be yet but train you I will."

Rex narrowed his eyes, not in suspicion but in consideration, then turned to organize his men, the 501st squadron.

Harry sighed, feeling the hum of the bond between Anakin and himself. He knew that Anakin could feel his apprehension at this war and feel his uneasiness but he did support his… husband. His other half! He was still surprised to call Anakin his and probably would be for a few months. Anakin grinned at him, saluted then turned and followed his men, with R2 behind him.

"Yoda, I will always be a wizard at heart though. I may wield a lightsaber but I'll always use a spell before using or reaching for the Force," Harry remarked, crossing his arms and watching as the 501st all filed into the Republic capital ship. Obi-Wan's fighting battalion, the 212th, was already on board. Commander Cody had been assigned to Obi-Wan and had met them earlier. "Though at this point, my magic and the Force may be one and the same. I do not know."

"Use the Force or do not. Trained you already are."

Harry dreamt of fighting Voldemort again, going back to the time right before Voldemort cast the killing curse at him. He had felt the presence of Lily and James and subconsciously knew that Remus and Sirius were dead, sensing their auras around him when he couldn't even see them. There had been those few moments when he thought he was dead.

A shrill scream woke him up, breathing heavily, glancing around the quarters in the Jedi temple that he had been given. He didn't have a lot of his things here as they were in the penthouse he had bought before the war had even started. HK-47 was there, powered down until Harry had need of him again. His ship was parked in the hangar beneath the apartment building and had undergone multiple updates since he had bought it, all of which had been Anakin's doing.

He sat bolt upright, feeling the bond strain against the distance between them and was about to lie back down, attempt to get some more sleep when his left hand flexed around something. Harry's eyes widened when he opened his left hand only to see the Resurrection stone in his palm.

The Elder wand sat at the foot of his bed and the cloak, the only Hallows he had actually taken with him, was sitting on his desk. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, placed the stone on his dresser then lay back down, wishing that Anakin was sleeping next to him, instead of going to war without him.

Harry pulled on his cloak and drew on the robes that the Jedi quartermaster had given him and stepped out, the door to his quarters automatically closing behind him. The Jedi Padawans around him stopped to stare at him, whispering amongst each other. He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms at them then walked off, going to meet Yoda at the hangar below the temple.

As he arrived, he could see Master Windu and Master Yoda talking between them. He quietly dampened down his magical presence and stood in the corner of the doorway, listening.

"...Master Yoda, are you sure about only taking him?"

"Been training three months already, he has. Ready he is for a real blade."

Master Windu dipped his head in a nod, remembering Master Secura's words. She had been full of nothing but praise for their newest Jedi and so had the other Jedi that Yoda had asked to train Padawan Potter in lightsaber combat. "You still think Potter is going to be the Sentinel that will help us find this… Sith Lord that you've felt?"

"Knows the Dark Side of the Force he does. Has death about him."

Mace crossed his arms. "Even though he's the oldest young man we have ever taken for training?"

"Started training when he was 11, he said."

"That is different," Mace replied, narrowing his eyes.

"Different we may need."

"You ready to go?"

Mace would never admit to startling, turning around to see the man they were talking of. Padawan Potter was standing patiently behind them, his black hair pulled back and his green eyes full of amusement.

"Ready I am. Know how to fly you do?"

"Yes, An- General Skywalker taught me."

Yoda gestured to the ship behind him. It was a small Jedi transport vehicle and was the size of a medium cruiser. "Meet you in the cockpit I will."

Potter nodded, looking between them briefly before walking up the ramp.

The trip to Ilum took a few hours in hyperspace and Harry took that time to meditate, sitting in the small cargo bay of the Jedi transport. He sat cross-legged and breathed in and out in deep, slow breaths as he sunk into the Force and his own magic. He could feel Yoda, a bright white light in the cockpit, and the steady stream of space outside the ship's walls as they traveled.

He melted into the bond that connected him with Anakin, trying to see if he could sense his husband. He had grown anxious over the past few months, ever since he had discovered that the Hallows had come with him. Anxious about what it meant and what it would mean. To his knowledge, no one had ever attained all three artifacts and actually managed to keep them.

He outwardly sighed and was about to give up when he felt a slight push in his mind. Harry stilled and reached out, giving a tiny little nudge back.

Ani?

Harry?

He grinned and mentally followed the little push of power with his mind, wrapping his own presence around the other young man's. He could feel Anakin as if he was in the same room, the brightest light surrounding the Chosen One of this galaxy. In return, Anakin leaned into Harry's presence, almost like they were physically embracing.

Where are you? You're in space?

I'm… We're going to Ilum, to find a saber crystal for me. Yoda's taking me on a fieldtrip!

Harry could feel Anakin's bemusement through the bond and then apprehension and… chaos. He knew that both Obi-Wan and Anakin were on Christosphis, pushing back the Separatists, and he had no idea whether it was going okay or not. His heartbeat picked up, hoping that if something bad were to happen to Anakin, he would be able to feel it.

Anakin? Are you…

I'm fine.

Harry frowned and was about to answer back when something that felt like the Force's equivalent of static moved through their bond. He was roughly thrown back to his own body, his own mind, unsure what had just happened. He took a deep breath then opened his eyes.

Yoda was looking down at him, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Busy were you?"

Harry grimaced but shook his head. "Just meditating. Something wrong?"

"Arrived at Ilum, we have."

Harry stood up, stretched a little to get the kinks out of his body and followed the Jedi Grand Master. He stopped at the entrance to the cockpit, his eyes widening when he peered out through the windows. Ilum glowed beneath them and he could practically hear the crystals singing out to them. But one in particular… One crystal sang in his mind loudly enough that it drowned out the rest of them.

"Hear your crystal, you do?"

Harry nodded, speechless. "Is this what all Jedi hear, when they come to pick their crystal?"

Yoda dipped his head in a nod. "Never that loud though, I think."

Harry ran right through and into the crystal caves, leaving Yoda behind. The crystals were singing out to him, some so white in his mind that they were shining out all the thoughts in his mind. He cautiously backed away from them, following the shining beacon that his own crystal was humming. He ran through the paths taken by many previous Jedi, crawled through ice tunnels and finally stopped at a much darker turn than he had seen.

He could hear breathing, loud and harsh as if through something electronic. And it was coming closer.

Harry crossed his arms, hands loose enough that he could grasp his wand at a moment's notice. Though it wasn't like he had needed his wand or the Elder wand in a while. Wandless spells came much easier to him now.

Booted footsteps finally stopped then started in front of him, staying in the shadows. That same breathing followed and Harry raised an eyebrow then took a step closer, meeting the shadows openly and easily since he had seen scarier things before.

Harry stopped at the sight before him, reaching out with his mind to see… It was a ghost before him, the man who was cloaked all in black and was wearing a black mask, a breathing mask. There was no skin visible, not even the eyes were visible. His heart clenched in his chest as the figure reached out, its arm all wrapped in black, ending in a black glove.

The ghost or whatever it was, maybe a vision, was… felt familiar, as Harry reached out too. Their hands touched, sending sparks up Harry's arm and jolting him into recognition.

"Anakin?"

The black cloaked man screamed, electronic and human vocal cords together, and vanished. Harry sucked in a tight, shaky breath, standing there, shock still, as the shadows pooled around him. He stayed there, trying to catch his breath, willing himself to calm down. He had talked to his husband just thirty minutes ago. This wasn't… Anakin wasn't that thing.

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The crystals still sang around him and he used that to center himself, slow his racing heart. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and walked further into the shadows, going right to the end of the drop off, right to where the loudest crystal sang and knelt down, scooping it up from the crystal growth.

It was glowing inside, a bright white, but it looked… It looked pitch black on the outside, black with a white heart. Kind of like white veins.