Chapter 15
45 days before the Boonta Eve Classic
They had returned to Tatooine just two days before. Rather than dealing with the uncomfortable discussion they knew was coming instead, they watched as Harry packed his repair kit. He was hugged by Ahsoka and Assajj.
"Come Home in one piece." Mother spoke softly a sad smile gracing her face. "And bring our girl home with you." catching Harry off guard.
"Our Girl?" He said his confusion evident.
"She is your best friend yes?" Watching him nod. "You love her in a way that is not merely as a friend." With a blush Harry nodded again. "Unless she looks like a Hutt or is evil like the Sith then I guessing we will love her too, so again bring our girl home."
"Harry, my young apprentice, the force is with you." Master fay said as she held his shoulders looking him full in the face "Be mindful of your surroundings, trust in the force, and listen to Master Yaddle should she offer advice."
As they unloaded his speeder from Assajj's ship Master Yaddle spoke. "A trial this will be for you see many things in Jabba's Palace that will test the very core of who you are. If help you need, ask and I will give it." Her inflection on the word trial was not missed on Harry. He was being graded. He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath trying to release his sudden anxiety into the force. "No pressure…" She said impishly causing Harry to laugh.
When they were dropped off Assajj gave Harry a lingering kiss. "What was that for?"
"A reason to come home." She said simply steering him toward Ahsoka and Anakin.
Ahsoka turned to her master. "Excuse me Master." As she too stepped up to Harry her hand finding the back of his head, and drawing him down for their lips to meet the kiss was sweet and chaste. "Come back to us."
"Harry are you sure this is the right play? We have enough Jedi here to take Hermione by force if need be." Anakin stated the worry evident on his face. "You are walking into the Krayt Dragons Lair."
"Anakin's Not wrong little brother." Thantas agreed as she drew both her brothers in for a hug. "May the force be with us all."
"The force, my ally is and a powerful ally it is." Attempting to channel master Yoda when he heard a cough behind him, he winced.
"Voice is wrong, from the top of your throat you must speak if Yoda you must imitate." Master Yaddle said causing everyone to stare at her wide-eyed. "A sense of humor you must-have, fun your must-have, a life you must have if to serve the force you are."
"My mind is completely blown away." Harry muttered shaking his head. "I hope to be home with Hermione a week before the race. I would like you both to work on Mom and dad. It would be great if you both were to drop out of the race and just let me be the target."
He was not surprised when they both looked offended by that. "We tried to convince them to believe me we did." Anakin said looking embarrassed. "Mom told me to be quiet and if I talked about it again, she would turn me over her knee."
"Even Dad could not convince her." Thantas said while carefully watching Harry's face. "Owen, Beru, and Little Cassandra are returning specifically to watch your race. Padmé asked Master Kenobi, Hett, Yoda, and Windu to be present and look after our family."
At first, Harry was angry until his sister gave him the list, and he calmed down. "A-Sharrad, Assajj, and Ahsoka will be there as well. I suppose they are better protected than we will be. May the force be with us all." He exclaimed then hopped into his speeder and moved off to Jabba's palace.
Bib Fortuna was not happy. The girl's place in life had changed in minutes she had been given private quarters, the slave implants had been removed, and right now his master barely tolerated his presence.
He could see the writing on the wall, but if the brat thought he was going to win he had another thing coming.
Hermione could not believe the change in behavior toward her. Even the master of this place treated her as if she were a princess. When she asked her friend, she found that what Harry had done earlier in the year had scared Jabba where he lived … his money. She was in the courtyard learning to dance because she honestly wanted to share a bond with Harry and two others had set her imagination on fire. Having experienced their kiss on Harry's lips had been very erotic and soon he would be here with another Jedi master. She heard a murmur go through the courtyard as the door opened, and for the first time in four years, she laid eyes on her Harry. 'Whatever he has been doing has been good for him.' He had sprouted up almost a foot, and muscles while not a hulk he was well sculpted before she knew it her feet carried her to him.
Harry watched the blast door open and was surprised, and elated to find Hermione waiting for him. Her hair no longer bushy but cascaded down her back in waves. He saw the curves of her body; the outfit while modest for Tatooine still revealed quite a bit. He strode forward his arms opening to catch his best friend in any Universe in a tight hug that was punctuated with a kiss. The two were lost in each other; not seeing what the rest of the courtyard saw a golden glow infused the two before coursing outward, and destroying every bit of technology in use.
That took Harry back to a moment years before.
Her lip trembled as she dashed to Harry throwing her arms around him. 'Hermione…'
'Harry – you're a great wizard, you know.'
'I'm not as good as you.' He said his embarrassment apparent as she let him go.
'Me!' She had said. 'Books And Cleverness! There are more important things–friendship, bravery.'
"And Love Harry Skywalker." She said breaking the kiss. "My love for you."
A gentle cough from master Yaddle brought both of them back to the present.
"Hermione Granger I would like you to meet Master Yaddle of the Jedi Order." Harry introduced his oldest friend to his surrogate grandmother. "She was the master for my adopted sister Thantas Skywalker-Shiing. Master Yaddle Hermione Granger is my second oldest friend. If not for her I don't think I would have survived my first three years at school."
"A pleasure to meet you it is Hermione Granger." Master Yaddle introduced herself reaching out both physically and with the force. "Strong in the force you are, but unlearn things you must learn new things. Follow the path of Jedi you can if you wish. Teach you I will.
Hermione was reveling in the feeling of Harry's arms wrapped around her. I need to discuss it with my bondmates but I am very much wanting to learn anything you can teach me."
"Harry set to rights that which you have destroyed. "Yaddle said sagely.
"Hermione stay with Master Yaddle while I handle this, please." Harry said with a confidence she had never seen in him. She wisely stayed silent watching the events unfold.
'Assajj is he always like this?' Hermione projected across the bond.
'Well, keep in mind I have only known him for almost a month. But when we were back at Hogwarts, he was very protective of both you and me.' Assajj responded to the silence that followed set both women on edge.
'Calm down you two he cares about you accept it already.' Ahsoka broke in startling them.
"Lord Jabba Disilijic Tiure, I apologize for my behavior and the effects of my greeting my betrothed." Harry said sincerely bowing low. "If I may I believe I can repair everything that was damaged."
Jabba thought about it and then motioned his protocol droid and they spoke for a moment. The droid tottered to the center of the room. "Lord Jabba thanks you for your willingness to fix that which has been destroyed. Lord Jabba also requests to know the schedule for the repair and refit of his pleasure cruiser."
"I need to see the shape that it is in." Harry answered honestly. "The repair here should only take a few moments as I can see the damage that was wrought. He lifted his hand and gathered all his magical strength and opened himself up to the force and he whispered. "Reparo Maxima."
Hermione wanted to tell him magic and technology do not mix until she saw the energy slowly leave his body emanating out in all directions. She could feel his intent. She noticed one of the younger Twi'lek who had not been in the room when it happened came running in and knelt at Harry's feet. For five minutes Harry held his concentration repairing and cleaning everything in the compound.
Jabba could not believe what he was seeing the myths spoke of people who could wield bother force and some other form of energy. They were called force mages, and there had not been one in over 15,000 years. The Infinite empire and their successors had hunted and destroyed every last vestige of their order. The rest of the denizens of the galaxy, even the Je'daii order from which the current order could trace its roots venerated the force mages. As it was, they who were the ultimate arbiters of balance.
Now there was one in his court one, he had offended, one he tried to enslave. He gave his droid a command. "Lord Jabba commands that his court be dismissed he would reconvene at a later time that he wanted to speak privately with master Yaddle, young Skywalker, and the Lady erm'ione.
Harry dropped to his knees releasing his hold on both the force and magic at the same time coming face to face with a young Twi'lek girl. "Hello, can you speak Basic?" Harry asked.
"Some… Learning…" She struggled with the words. "Felt … Power… Here …" pointing to her chest. "Help … Teach … Please." She said prostrating herself.
"Lord Jabba commands that everyone except Master Yaddle, Padawan Skywalker, and Lady Hermione leave now." The droid said.
A human covered in dark tattoos holding an obvious slave controller came over. "Get up, you silly creature our master has told us to leave. You can dance for the master later." He said striding toward the door; when he noticed the girl was not moving. He pressed a button on the remote the girl looked fearful, as he did but when the pain that normally came with the remote did not manifest the man strode angrily toward the girl until Harry stepped between her and man.
"She is staying here if you want to press your luck against me. I will be glad to settle the dispute right here right now," Harry said summoning his lightsaber to his hand, and the light blade phased into being in his other hand. "The choice is really easy to do you want to live or do you want to die."
"Live… live." The man stuttered looking to his master only for the master to grunt something sending the minion fleeing from the room.
The young girl wrapped her arms around Harry's torso sobbing into his stomach. Harry looked up at Hermione with a panicked look on his face
"Only you Harry could walk into a Crime Lords domain, destroy, then fix everything and threaten a minion. Only to have a fair maiden cry on you." Hermione huffed then grabbed his hand. "It is good to know some things never change though."
"Normal this is for him?" Master Yaddle said before looking at the Twi'lek. "Like you, she is. Teach her you must."
"Yes, Master." Harry sighed as he knelt long enough to pull the young woman up. "It will be okay I will teach you." He said with a grimace. "Hermione I am about to do something that will offend you because it offends me."
"What is that Harry?" She asked wondering what he could do she did not have long to wait.
"Lord Jabba again I apologize I came here to do some work for you and to retrieve my bonded." Harry started, and then stopped searching for the words to say. "However, I completely disrupted your court. Now I find that I must ask a favor."
"Go on." Jabba said in perfect galactic basic. Surprising both Harry and Yaddle as huts normally will not deign to speak basic. "I would hear your request."
"Lord Jabba I must purchase this one's freedom. She is like both Lady Hermione and me. She has access to the force and abilities like my own."
"Master Yaddle, you suspect what they are do you not?" Jabba continued unaffected by Harry's request
"Suspected, have I that Force Mages they are. Thought extinct for many millennia." Yaddle admitted. "Searched deep into the archives at many locations, known and some forgotten. A rich history was found in the Je'daii order that came before us. A heavy burden young Harry Skywalker carries. Need the expectations of an entire sect he does not."
"Very well. As you have offered apologies I to must apologize. In my culture, it was one of the highest edicts of my people that a Force Mage should never be offended." Jabba said gravely. "I release to you this slave to do as you will with her. There is another matter which requires your attention. I wish to get this over sooner rather than later. Bib Fortuna my majordomo has offended the house of Skywalker what would your house like in recompense?"
Harry turned to Hermione. "You are the one he assaulted what do you think his punishment should be?"
"Malfoy, end of the third year." Hermione said with some satisfaction. "In front of the entire court!"
"I will do it." Harry said his eyes bright, and the grin on his face made him look like a predator. "He already hates me." He whispered in her ears then he turned back to Jabba. "I would like to have a few words with him here for all the court to see."
"Will I have my Majordomo at the end of the day?" The Hutt asked. "Because if not when that ones training is complete; I would pay her handsomely to guide my court."
"Bib Fortuna!" Jabba called out. "Attend me!"
"Yes, Master?" Bib Fortuna said striding into his master's presence.
"Young Skywalker would have words with you." Jabba said gravely. "Your life is in your own hands Bib Fortuna! Choose your words and actions carefully!
Bib Fortuna swallowed nervously. Jabba had warned him that he would not stop Skywalker if the boy decided to punish him.
Harry walked up to the man having put his lightsabers away he leaned in and spoke quietly. "You hurt someone very dear to me. Don't try to deny that you desire her, I can see it as plain as the rising suns." Then Bib Fortuna felt a pain in his gut as Harry buried a force-enhanced punch to the man's stomach. "You will never have her. I do not have her. Her affection is a gift more precious than all the spice in the universe. You can confront me directly all you want. Whenever you want, but if you come after my family again, I will end you! Do you understand?"
Bib Fortuna was confused. Why was his Master allowing this? "It is your funeral then Skywalker. Enjoy the reprieve until Boonta Eve. You will pay for this insult… erk!"
Harry wanted to prove a point with a gesture he yanked the Twi'lek off the ground with a gesture. "Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Fortuna croaked. "I understand!" he sputtered before crashing back to his knees.
"Are you satisfied with the outcome Lady Hermione?" Jabba asked when she nodded. "Young Skywalker are you satisfied?"
"I am satisfied Lord Jabba." Harry stated his voice tightly controlled. "However, I think you may want to Hire this one pointing to Vak'Sava. I think she would be better suited to be guiding your house's affairs."
With a laugh that made Harry and Hermione cringe. "Perhaps you are right young Skywalker. Perhaps she is open to the idea, I think she would make great Majordomo."
"That means she is off-limits to you as well." Harry said to Bib Fortuna.
Fortuna for his part nodded and immediately began planning for a career change; as it seemed his days in the court were now numbered. He also had the beginnings of a plan. He would use the time the boy was in court to watch and test him. Jabba who had been watching his servant warned him. "Keep it outside the compound Fortuna. If I catch you trying anything your life will be measured in seconds!"
"Master Yaddle, your quarters are next to Lady Hermione's quarters. I trust you all wish to rest and catch up we will see you in the morning.
Coruscant multiple locations
Palpatine felt the load on the web of darkness increase momentarily exposing him to Jedi around the galaxy. Then the load lessened but not back to where it was even a month ago, and if he were honest the Sith web of concealment was failing. Perhaps he would need to talk with his old master. It would take him six weeks to travel there and back again. There was also the election to think on as well. 'Maybe I should let another win this election retire to Naboo freeing up my ability to travel. I would still influence the republic. Something to think about…"
The Jedi council was in session when the darkness receded, and they felt both Sith Master, the Apprentice, and a third being that they could not quite identify. Jedi younglings, padawan, Knight, and master alike were affected one way or another. Some saw the vision of complete ruins; others saw visions of war on distant planets. Mace Windu saw the Skywalker brothers on the steps leading to the temple, and facing an army lead by a Sith he could not distinguish if it were the servant or the master all he saw was a flash of red hair.
Ki Adi Mundi saw a battle in the chancellors' office Cin Drallig, headless on the floor; Aayla Secura unconscious with a stab wound to the shoulder. He and master Yoda stood facing the deformed Sith master. A moment later it was over. Master Yoda and Yaddle's seats in the council chamber flickered to life.
"Felt you have the disturbance in the force." Master Yoda said. "No doubt can there be that the Sith have returned and seek to destroy us."
"Young padawan Skywalker bonded a third time today with an old friend. A great light there was." Master Yaddle declared. "Believe I do that Force Mages have returned to us, and that currently there are two soon to be three more there will be. I must also bear the news to the council that one of our own has died, and left a padawan's training unfinished."
"Who is the master that died?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked. "Who will finish their training?"
"Master Ky Narec passed into the force two years ago. Nearly lost the young one to the Sith for all-time save for the actions of Padawan Skywalker." Master Yaddle said. "Finish her training her Master Yoda will. Take another Padawan I will Hermione Granger here on Tatooine she is Young Skywalker's third bondmate. She is from his reality she has come to a Force Mage she is."
There was some grumbling amongst the council at the word bondmate. Many made a mental note to check the archives for the term Force Mage. Oppo Ranciss objected. "Surely should be discussed before we let either of these into the order."
"Eight years ago, this very council told Qui Gon Jinn they would decide ultimately who would be trained as Jedi. Arrogant that attitude is. Cost Qui Gon his life I think." Master Yoda declared. "Wrong we were to deny Qui Gon's request. Complete Assajj Narek's training I will. The council's consent needs it I do not."
The head of the order was holding his forehead and rubbing. "Master yoda is Correct the force is the final arbiter in situations such as this." Windu said. "Long have I been concerned by Padawan Skywalker recently I felt him in the force and have felt nothing but light so in the interest of keeping the peace. Masters Yoda and Yaddle may train whoever the force tells them too. Maybe it is a sign for us to get off our collective butts and take a turn around the galaxy."
"Tell this council something I will." Master Yaddle said. "An almost passable imitation of Master Yoda can young Skywalker do. Told him a sense of humor your must-have, fun your must-have, a life you must have if to serve the force you are." She stopped and looked at the assembled masters. "Forgotten to live we have looked out over the galaxy from our temple. Urge you I do take a padawan and go see the galaxy with new eyes." Her image flickered out.
"Imitates me a lot he does." Master Yoda said. "Right she is!" Then his image flickered out leaving the council in a tiff.
'Some days it is not worth it to be the head of the order.' Windu thought for a moment. "All of us should walk through the youngling classes, check the rolls of the Agricorp, and just try to find a new apprentice to pass on our knowledge.
He had the wand the spell was on his lips when he felt a burning diagonal across his body then as darkness claimed him. He saw his former best friend completely impassive except his eyes looked like molten emeralds.
With a start, his eyes opened he had something covering his mouth and he was floating in a liquid. his fear took over and the tank he was in exploded outward.
"Good you have fear and can use it to your advantage." a robed figure said stepping out of the darkness. "I can feel your anger and hate. Toward young Padawan Skywalker. You simply must tell me everything about him." The robed figure said.
Authors Notes: If you don't like the inclusion of Hermione tough luck. in other news there will not be another Chapter posted until mid August when i come back from vacation.