Title:Way of the Force
Author name:Icy Manipulator
Author Category: Romance
Keywords:Harry Jedi

Rating:PG-13

Summary:An Escalation of attacks andMuggles steps in.

DISCLAIMER:

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and/or George Lucas, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, Lucas Books, Del Rey and Randomhouse, Lucas Arts and Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author notes: Well, some people like the romance and others don't. Let's take a look at romance in the SW universe, shall we? Episode 2 (need I say more?). Any 'buffs here remember Calista and Luke's interaction while they were in the Eye of Palpatine? And, let's not forget 'The Courtship of Princess Leia' and the get together of Luke and Mara Jade. Oh, Knight of the Old Republic (The Game), could also add insight on relationships in the SW universe and even on how the Force interacts with the couple. The Force is a shipper! All I'm doing is incorporating that fact and giving the Force some tangibility and personality lacking in the original trilogy, that the books (both regarding the old and new republic) and the new trilogy imply.

But I digress, if you don't like the mushy stuff, move down to about half of this chapter and start from there ;-)

BTW, this is un beta-ed. I wanted to get this chapter out ASAP so that I may thank you guys. Besides, I'm still deliriously happy with my baby boy's arrival, so here's another treat, Has anyone read 'Essence' yet? It's a sort of thank you, enjoy!

And if you guys aren't too busy, please R/R this and (plugs) my other stories.

-

Nessun dorma,
nessun dorma ...
Tu pure, o Principessa,
Nella tua fredda stanza,
Guardi le stelle
Che tremano d'amore
E di speranza.

-Nessun Dorma , Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

-

Chapter 13 – September

27 September 1996, Hogwarts Castle – The Great Hall

Luna sighed in contentment for what seemed to be the umpteenth time. Harry had been wonderful to her this evening… From meeting her at the entrance of the Ravenclaw common room till this slow dance in which they were now slowly swaying to in the enlarged Great Hall.

"Is everything alright, Luna? I'm not boring you, am I?" Harry asked concerned. He'd been hearing these little sighs from Luna almost the whole evening and he hopes he wasn't doing anything wrong.

"No, you're not." She answered "In fact I would think this to be the most wonderful evening I've ever had… Why? Are you uncomfortable?" she then asked the last hesitantly.

Exhaling a breath of relief, he smiled down at her. "No. I'm having a great time too. Thanks for inviting me by the way."

"With all the girls that were lined up, it seem prudent to be early" she explained as a small blush crept up Harry's cheeks.

"I don't know why though…" He began. "But, I think the Council's got a great idea in having these dances. It helps boosts morale with this war going on and all."

"Let's not talk about war right now…" she murmured as she leaned her head back unto Harry's chest.

"I just wish that life could be as easy as dancing..." she said after a moment as she sighed again.

"Funny... it's almost like what Ginny told me..." Harry answered offhandedly.

She stiffened in his arms as he said this. Harry must have noticed for he paused to look down at her again with a worried frown.

"Luna, I'm..." He began to say.

She shushed him softly as she placed two fingers on his lips. "Would you like to go for a walk outside... I think I need a bit of fresh air." She then said as she spied Ginny at their table with Neville, who was her date for tonight.

Harry nodded in reply, getting a slight twinge in his gut as he glanced at what Luna was looking at.

They were silent as they walked out. Both engrossed in their musings that they hadn't realize that they were still holding hands as they sat at one of the secluded benches of the Rose Garden. It was a quiet night. The stars were shining brightly one side of the sky while the other had a slightly orange tint. Sky glow, a reminder that the once quaint wizarding town of Hogsmead is now a bustling city, and still growing, as more and more people arrive in search for safety.

Harry turned to look at Luna. Her dirty-blond hair cascading in rivulets along the sides of her face. Framing it for the full moon's rays and give her this unnatural glow that caused his breath to hitch. He wondered why some, if not most people, could not see the beauty of the creature before him. 'She's not odd...she's..." He thought searchingly, as he tried to find for the proper adjectives to describe her. 'She is she...' a voice whispered to him. 'Just like anybody else... they are their own...' another thought carried. He played with this in his thoughts and realized that she didn't act...'funny' when she's with him. Infact, she seemed to be as 'normal' as every other girl he knows, 'which wasn't much to go on'. he added in his thoughts.

He didn't notice he'd been staring at her for a while until she spoke and realized that she too was looking at him intently with those haunted silvery eyes.

"I know Harry" she began.

"What" He answered confused.

"I know about... You and ...Ginny." She finally said haltingly as she arrived at a decision.

"Hermione told me... Oh, don't worry; I understand why you wouldn't want her to know..."

"I-I don't know what to say..." He stammered.

"Don't say anything then." she said airily. For a moment Harry thought she seemed to slip back to her 'normal' self.

"Oh... stories have been told and retold through generations... there were even some records of it, but the rest lies forgotten. So it isn't some big secret except for the fact that nobody knows the implications and of course most have already forgotten about who the Weasleys are. If what Hermione told me was true, then only your family, the Weasely's and the Longbottom's know. Of course, Dumbledore knows and the lines of the other founders." She paused a moment for Harry to grasp what she was saying.

"Cedric..." He then said "That's why he invited Cho before I did...and she knows a bit too, doesn't she?... and- and that's what she meant" he said as he remembered the day more than a week ago when Cho cornered him.

"I like you Harry. I really do. But, it won't work... I had to make you see...make you choose...make you realize that its... it isn't me you've been searching for, do you understand? and Cedric, I promised him, he - he explained to me the circumstances involved... but... look at me, I'm rambling. I just wanted you to know that maybe we could still be friends" She finally said and without waiting for a response, hurriedly walks way, leaving him dumbfounded.

"You're insights serve you well..." she said as she giggled a bit when she recalled the movie's they've watched."All of these things are facts Harry, just that. But you... you're a wild card, Harry. I know you..." she said

"What do you mean"

"I know that the reasons you gave Hermione for not acting on what you know, are not you're real reasons." She said as she listened in dreamily to the opening strains of a muggle song that drifted down to them from the ballroom, a song she'd heard from Ginny.

It's not the pale moon that excites me.

That thrills and delights me

"...and what do you think they are" He challenged amused.

"You believe that anything you might have is not real, since it was predetermined. You don't want to have anything control you anymore and you're acting in rebellion against your destiny... and you believe that Ginny might feel betrayed by her own emotions if she knew, because you believe that she might think that whatever she'd been harboring for you... adoration, a crush...love, is just an illusion... an illusion created by the bond you both share." she concluded.

Oh no. it's just the nearness of you..

Harry was surprised. How could Luna arrive at this and how could she say it when he himself couldn't find the words to express it.

"How?..."

It isn't your sweet conversation

that brings this sensation

"...It's because... I've fallen for you Harry." She said in a quiet voice. "I haven't thought about much else but you..." she said.

Oh no. it's just the nearness of you

Though she said it with a steady voice, Harry could feel the anguish in her.

When you are in my arms

And I feel you so close to me

"Luna..." He managed to say as he wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I'm sorry... I didn't know... I..."

All my wildest dreams came true.

"It's alright; I can't help it, do I - I've already resigned myself to the fact that I can't have you. I admit I'm being selfish, but I'm happy with what I can get." She said as tears flowed down her cheek and on to Harry's courtier shirt.

I need no soft lights to enchant me

If you don't neglect me

"You're like grass... You could be walked over, cut or burned... but you still grow out from the ground in the spring. I've always wondered how you cope... but when you told us about you being what you are, I realized that was why... Life has chosen you Harry to be her defender..."

The right to hold you ever so tight

"You're rambling again, Luna" He tried to joke in an effort to lighten up the somber mood. He was delighted when she heard a small chuckle from her.

And to feel in the night

"Yeah... I do that sometimes..." she said as she stayed silent in his arms, enjoying the warmth he gave.

Harry drew a breath and was rewarded by the scent of apples and moonbeam, something he knew was distinctly Luna, though he did wonder what moonbeam smells like. He chuckled slightly at the thought and attracting her attention.

the Nearness of you.

"You find my predicament amusing" She said in a hurt tone, half listening to the orchestral refrain of the song that slowly faded to its end.

"No, I was just thinking on the scent moonbeams…" he said.

"I never thought I was catching" she giggled slightly at the thought, implying that Harry was turning odd.

"I wouldn't mind. I was just thinking that you smell like apples and moonbeams... well, you know..." he said and gave a soft smile causing a blush to creep up her face.

"Listen..." he then said. "I like you Luna, and if things were different maybe we've had a chance..."

"If things were different maybe I wouldn't be feeling this way now.." she retorted.

"The thing is, I am a Jedi, and as such, my first duty is to the Force...There can be no emotion, There can be no ignorance, There can be no passion... this is my fate, the life I would lead... I can't… mustn't fall in love." He said as his voice trailed off to silence as he remembered his declaration to Hermione... but that was different, wasn't it?

"I think you're wrong, Harry." she said and as she saw the frown starting to crease his features she added "You'll find out why, one day and I - hope it wouldn't be too late, but I trust that you will… you're a seeker in more than one sense of the word…"

They sat there some more in an uneasy silence, Harry letting go of her as he was again lost in his thoughts, until Luna spoke again.

"Remember last Christmas, under the mistletoe" she asked.

"You said that they were full of Nargles..." he said as he remembered then added. "but, I have a feeling that it was not." he then said shrewdly with an upturned eyebrow.

She gave a small laugh as she shook her head, a blush, again brightening her impish features.

"I wanted to kiss you, but... you know, with Cho and the things that were happening... and I'm afraid... of… you will reject me… " She said, sighing again.

She turned herself to him fully and looked hopefully, pleadingly, into the depths of his eyes.

"Would you… kiss me? Just this once…" she finally said after a long moment of being lost in his gaze. "Just this night… can I have this moment… please…"

Harry's throat constricted and he found it hard to breathe. 'Why is my life so complicated… why don't I have a choice… I'm confused…' he wailed in his mind 'but you do have a choice, my son… what is right and what is easy…" Lily's voice drifted to him.

'it's not a matter of just saving lives, Harry… it's also about easing the pain…' His father's voice then suggested.

'but what about Ginny?' he asked, though it confused him further why he did ask.

'Take it from me kiddo, I've had lots of experience with girls… the thing is, if you feel right about doing something and she or they feel right about it too, then just go with the flow… it's all a part of growing up...' Sirius then said.

Harry heard the beginnings of a protest from Lily, but James interrupted her.

"No, Lil, Harry isn't betraying anybody, his will is his own. Did you know how many girls I had a crush on…'

"Not to mention the amount of snogging involved…" Sirius put in.

"As I was saying…" Harry could just imagine his father's irritated look. "…I had to delude myself in experiencing the different…essences… of different girls before I realized that all I was doing was delaying the fact that I was already in love with you, Lily."

"What Prongsie here is saying, removing the mush… hey, get a room you two!" Sirius wasn't able to continue with what he was going to say because he found he'd lost his audience. Sirius just… disconnected with an irritated huff and went… well, to where those already one with the Force goes to…

Harry's thoughts were jumbled as he looked on just as furiously into her eyes, searching those silvery pools. Her eyes, it was impossible to remember the 'always surprised look' that she had… silvery eyes that weren't asking much… maybe just a glimpse of a future not possible… a future made impossible. 'But this is the here and now… I must focus on that, and maybe… it would bring us closer to healing…and understanding.' He thought as he dipped closer. The scent of apples and moonbeams cut through his senses as he closed even further. He heard her gasp when she realized what he was about to do...

As he closed his eyes those final few inches and he felt her hand in his hair, he reached onto the very fabric of space and time through the Force and filled his mind with all and nothing but him and Luna… a moment later, the sweetness that was her lips where on his own.

And as their lips and tongues danced across each other in that ancient ritual, he weaved the tendrils of life with a power that those of his kind possess and sought her mind… for her to see what he could see, and for a moment and an eternity, the earth stood still.

The mist of time that remembers the future as it anticipates the past surrounds them both. The Force was their guide to the maybe and is. For that was all that was... As they saw a different reality, where decisions and actions so minute but relevant did and did not occur, giving their effect far into the future that those that did would no longer know, even in dreams. It has been said that a flutter of a butterfly's wings in one part could cause a twister in another part of the world. It was also said that every decision made causes a rift, a junction, in space and time when the decision was made, thus making creating a whole new universe where the effects of that decision come to fruition. This was true of time… as they saw what could have been theirs…

The mists started to part and a scene began to form… like an old picture whose colors have been washed out and yellowing…

…In a grassy meadow, a man with raven black hair and startlingly green eyes whirled around a silvery-eyed maiden with dirty-blond hair, her laughter echoing across the field only to stop as they fell into the ground and shared a blissful kiss…

…A tall and lanky red-haired man and the same raven haired one standing nervously beside each other… the latter suddenly stiffening the breaking into a still nervous grin as he saw the maiden walk towards him, her face though hidden behind a veil of white was aglow with happiness…

…The fire was dancing bright and merrily in the fireplace… the tree was deck out in ornaments or red and blues and gold, presents neatly tucked in a haphazard fashion underneath… children were playing and prancing and laughing all around, excited for tomorrow events… a boy of eleven, twin girls of nine, another girl not six years old, a boy of three and a baby of maybe a year and half. Looking proudly over them were the same man and woman, their children all sharing their features…

The visions started to fade away back into their own universe and the onlookers returning to their own corner of space and time.

'The future is always difficult to see... clouded with emotion it is' a voice finally whispered to them as their kiss ended. Luna's tears were falling freely just as an indescribable look was on his face.

"What… was… that?" She said haltingly, still not letting go of his embrace.

"It's the present or past or future of a different place, a different universe… a possibility that is, could have or cannot exist. Some call them dreams; muggle scientists call them quantum universes…" He tried to explain as best he could.

A steady, comforting silence ensued as them were lost in their own thoughts once more. Harry was staring vacantly at the moon. Calm and serene, quite unlike the boy she grew to love a year and forever ago. A small smile formed at her lips as she realized the gift she'd been given… a glimpse of a place not far but out of reach…

"It's not well to dwell in dreams, lest we forget to live… Dumbledore told me that… when I looked on my hearts greatest desire… and I wonder now… if even that has changed…" Harry said.

"Dreams are all I've ever really had… faith and hope in the things I believe. I'm happy that I have not been in vain…" Harry turned to look at her with a knowing eye and a small smile. "At the very least I know… somewhere, somewhen, somehow… I have you… Thank you, Harry" Luna whispered as she reached back to touch his face, thankfully placing a light kiss on his cheek, but she became alarmed as she pulled back and looked at him, Harry was frowning and just as suddenly, he doubled over in sudden pain.

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly as she ran her hands along his back and hair in an attempt to give him comfort.

"I need to talk with Dumbledore…" he gasped as visions of pain and suffering clouded his mind, the force was rippling in the stench of the dark side as it shifted in with the light making him nauseous and weak.

It felt as though as piece of him was ripped off, leaving a hole in his chest… drawing on the force, he found little comfort as the murmuring background of voices where somehow silent, as if in mourning. He then felt a slight sting on his scar… Voldemort was happy… Very happy indeed.

28 September 1996

The metallic clank of steel against stone echoed through the castles corridors as Harry and Neville, resolutely walked on to what was once a disused potions classroom in the lowest levels of Hogwarts Castle. They walked on in silence, which was good enough for Harry to review the eventful days of September. The first week was 'normal' enough. The hard research and development done by Remus and Arthur, as well as the Enchanters and Spellcrafters, since the first War Council meeting cam to fruition by the time they were supposed to go to Hogwarts. 'Necessity really is the mother of invention.' He mused silently to himself. Old war materials were dug up; various Tomes on the art of enchanting armor were tested, revised and updated. The idea of a 'marauders map' for the entirety of Britain was brought to life, in a far shorter possible time, though not without glitches, than when four adventurous boys made the original.

He mused on the day Ginny and he spent in her dreams and the rescue after that. He was glad that there wasn't much excitement, except when Ginny stupefied Charlie when he unexpectedly popped in front of her. 'Quick reflexes…" he though amusedly, a small smile forming on his lips. He had though about her… a lot. He also thought of the repercussions of not upholding the oath… his duty.

'Duty… is that all there is? Are we just the means for Fate? Can't it be more?" he thought the last as he echoed Ginny's own question in the dreamscape. When the Potter line is gone, the principal defender of light would be gone too… not to mention the roots from which the Jedi could take hold in this part of the universe will cease to exist.

'…and what about the Weaselys? They would be the last, too… what about Hermione? I know she would like to have a large family someday. And Ron too ofcourse, all that would be left of the Old Guard's blood would be Neville. Hufflepuff ended with Cedric and Ravenclaw is mixed with mine…'

His thought trailed off as they turned a corner and was able to take a glance at Neville. 'Would he be able to? Can he stand alone in the darkness? Can he bear the burden that I'm asked to carry?'

'Teach him…teach them, to ask for larger shoulders than a lighter burden…'

He was glad that his friend has taken his training with Charlie seriously 'Give him a few months and he'll be able to survive a skirmish, a battle even. In a few years he would be a force to reckon with' He just hoped that his visions when they clasped hands would not come to pass… 'Castor and Pullox… twins of fate we are…'

'Focus on the here and now…'

'What about Ginny?' again his thoughts trailed back to her.

'She's a nice girl. I think I fancy her infact, but how do I know if it's real'

'how do you know it's not?' He frowned slightly.

'I mean, I like Luna too… come to think of it, I like…love, Hermione… let's say I have stirrings of love for them' flinching involuntarily as he thought this.

'Why can't I just get it over and done with?'

'But it wouldn't be fair…' he frowned again

'Could I… I mean I do like her, I feel comfortable with her… but I still sense something isn't… right about it?'

'…Yet…'

He ended that train of though for a while and picked out a new one. 'I'm glad my friends now know about the Jedi' a smile once again forming as he remembered Hermione's reaction, especially when he showed them his lightsaber. 'Well, I can't keep those skills hidden forever… just knowing the Force has changed my life.'

The smile quickly changed to a frown again when he remembered Ron's initial reaction to why He could come to the council meetings and he can't. Ron asked him why all his brothers where included and his ire was furthered when he learnt that even Neville was taking part in the Council meetings. He had no choice but to tell them about the Prophecy, which Neville already knew since Harry told him, and explained to them that should He, Harry, fall in battle there was a good chance that maybe Neville could pick up the mantle. It was this same reasoning that Harry gave to Neville which prompted his heavy training in the art of war.

'Ron, my best friend. I hope he still is after all the blow over and dodges I did." He thought grimly. 'He's changed too, it's confusing when I sense something different from him. He's like… it seems that he's got echoes coming off from him…" He mulled this over but not getting closer to an answer, he just shrugged and filed this thought away.

'I do hope Mr. Weasely tells him soon, and not wait for him to be of age…' He looked back and as expected, they were joined by Bill and Percy as they turned another corridor. No words where needed as they just exchanged small nods and a few small smiles and continued on.

'Well atleast we could be fairly sure of the loyalties of those in the castle' He thought again. Remembering as all the students where instructed to once again wear the sorting hat to establish their allegiance. It was to no surprise that those with enemy sympathies have not come back to Hogwarts. 'Probably groveling infront of old Voldy' he though grimly. And once again, thinking of the Dark Lord led him back to think of…

'What about Ginny? There really is something about her? I wonder if her hair is just as soft for real as it was in dreams. I wonder if she really does smell of clouds and starlight… or if her lips are as sweet as chocolate…?' he groaned at the thought, earning him a look from Neville.

"Are you alright, Harry?" He asked his friend, to which Harry just responded with a small nod.

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" Neville whispered. Though there was no real need. It wasn't hard to imagine the knowing smirk the brothers behind them shared.

Harry was thankful that they've arrived at their destination. The heavy oak doors opened of its' own accord and they entered into a short corridor five meters long and two meters wide. At the other end is a dull grey steel door with the image of a phoenix embossed upon its center.

"Harry James Potter, Neville Longbottom, Bill and Percy Weasley present for the Council meeting" Harry said in a clear voice. Not a few seconds later, the way out behind them was blocked by a heavy steel panel and they were bathe in a pale blue light.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome to Frontline HQ" a disembodied female voice replied. With a swish of air the heavy door opened allowing them access to the room beyond.

Bill gave a whistle of appreciation on the sight that they beheld. "If the ministry had been this efficient, Voldemort wouldn't have had a snowballs' chance in hell…" Bill then said in an awed whisper while Percy winced.

"Well, we're doing something now… I'm just glad that atleast my family fortune and my fame is being put to good use." Harry said lightly but either way, he was also awed by what could be done by dedicated people working for a common goal.

It was a mixture of muggle and wizarding ideas and the place reminded Harry of what he saw once on the tele, NASA's mission control. The entrance led them to a platform overlooking the bustle below. On the far wall were five huge screens, each of which are capable of showing Tactical data, maps, live feed from a remote, muggle news and video comms. Two of the screens where now showing two dimensional views of the Tactical Situation Map. Infront of the screens were two rows of ten people. The front row are each assigned a sector of Britain and is responsible to sift through the data coming in from the TSM. Behind them are the Tactical Analysts and the Communications people. On a raised platform, a bit lower and infront of the platform the four were standing on, was the Command and Control Station. Harry was not surprised to see that Moody was on duty as CC, nor when he saw Kingsly Shacklebolt manning Operations on his left. The surprise however was to see Tonks' with her bright green hair at Moody's right manning the Tactical Command Console. Behind the CC platforam was the TSM itself. It was a five by five meter table showing a three dimensional map of Britain. Incorporating all of the original Mauraders Map capabilities, an illegal magic detection and warning system was added as well and was manned by three wizards and five witches equally situated on all sides to fine tune and distribute any called for data.

"Ah, Harry, I hope you enjoy seeing some of the fruits of our labors" the familiar voice of Albus Dumbledore called out to them.

"This is really great, sir. We have a bit more of a chance now…" Harry replied.

"To borrow a good family's motto 'while we breathe we can hope'… yes, I do believe we have a chance, but the cost… that is what worries me."

"What about the disruption in the Force that I felt last night" Harry asked. Though he had an idea what could have caused it, he wanted to know where, how and why.

Dumbledore lost the twinkle in his eye as he gazed solemnly at Harry "We suspect that it might be France and the fact there we have received no word from Beuxbattons indicates that they may have been attacked."

Though he wished it wasn't so. Dumbledore was fairly sure a terrible tragedy occurred when Fawkes wailed the most sorrowful song he'd ever heard from the magnificent bird.

"Do we have news of survivors?" Bill asked worriedly. Harry knew this was because of Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatton's Triwizard Champion, who Bill was getting quite close to.

"Hopefully we'll know at the end of the day, but for now let us join the others in the meeting room…we have much to discuss" Dumbledore said and led the four to a door to the their left.

As they entered, they tried to pull all morbid thoughts from their minds and held out hope for those that were attacked.

When they've entered the meeting room, they saw most of the council already seated. Though, Mr Lovegood, Remus and Mr. Weasely were engaged in animated discussion beside one of the magical windows, much like the Great Hall's ceiling, but alternately shows the ground and forest. Mrs. Bones was at the meeting table hunched over a folder. The other department heads where likewise the same and pouring over their information and reports before the meeting began.

"Harry, glad you could join the party…"

"Oh, Hello George" Harry greeted him and offered a smile in turn.

"Yeah, it was kind of boring with all these old people around…mmm… no offence professor." Fred then said.

"None at all, but I like to be known as 'more experienced' myself" The Headmaster replied with his usual twinkle. He then spared a nod to Mr Weasely, who turned to look at them, as a signal for the meeting to begin. "But, I believe we should be seated?" He said and gestured to the chairs around of the meeting table. With that, the rest of the council took their respective seats.

"Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. We have much work to do today and so little time." Mrs. Bones began with a harried voice. On cue to her nod, A4-sized panel screens the rose from the table and position themselves infront of the council members. Likewise, the wood panel behind the Triumvirate slid down to reveal another flat screen which came to life showing the image of the globe, just as the magical windows turned opaque and transformed, blending perfectly with the walls.

"First order of business…" She continued and tapped at her screen to bring out the agenda. "Mr. Weasely…" five heads turned to give her their attention….

"I think you mean, Charlie, Madam…" Dumbledore corrected her to the snickering of the twins and the others amused smiles.

"Right..." she then said tersely and tapped again at her console. With a hint of static, a small square box appeared on all their panels. After a few moments the meeting room was filled by a load roar and with another burst of static the image of Charlie Weasely came on their screens. "Uh… hello everyone… Sorry about that… Mylene here's having one of her mood swings…" He said. As the signal got stronger, Harry got concerned when he noticed wisps of smoke coming off Charlie's armor.

"Are you alright Charlie?" Harry suddenly spoke out of turn, though nobody stopped him because everyone was wondering the same.

"Hello there Harry, yeah just fine… A bit heated up, but the new armor held out quite nicely… though there are a few kinks we need to work out" He said, Remus was furiously writing up some notes and tapping his panel every now and then.

"I'll need a full report later on" Remus then said also out of turn.

"Gentlemen…" Madam Bone then said. "While all these are well and good, RD would be covered later. What we first need to know from Mr Weasely… Charlie, is his assessment of the dragons?"

"We're making great progress… Though we think, and Hagrid agrees with me, that maybe Harry's… ummm… talents would prove beneficial… At any rate, we estimate another six months before we'll have them as an effective fighting force. We do need more personnel though" Charlie said, shouting the last part as another dragon gave a roar in the background.

"We shall see then what we could do on personnel. Send our good wishes to everyone there will you?" Arthur then said.

"Thanks Dad, send my love to Mum… oh, and Harry?" Charlie said with a sly grin.

"Yeah?"

"Send my love to Ginny, will ya?" Charlie then said, without waiting for a reply he just said 'Ciao everybody' and cut off his coms. Harry groaned again as he heard the snicker of the twins and even from the corner of his eye he could see the amused look of Mr. Weasely.

"An inside joke." Mr. Weasely supplied for Madam Bones. Dumbledore just smiled again knowingly.

"Shall we continue?" Dumbledore then supplied

"Right. Next item would be Research and Development… Remus" Arthur then supplied and all eyes turned towards the werewolf.

"As you know, the Aegis project is being deployed along Hogwart's perimeter as we speak. The mobile versions should be ready and deployed along the northern coast by the end of the week. Full integration is expected by mid October. Also, you saw Charlie testing out E-WAR, Enhanced Wizard Armor…" Remus was about to continue when Harry interrupted again.

"Enhanced?"

"Unlike what you're wearing right now…" Remus indicated the armor they've been taken to wearing as formal gear on meetings "E-WAR incorporates the latest in wizard and muggle technology in terms of spells and materials. I have the full brief and I'd be happy to supply them to you later, Harry" He then concluded to Harry's satisfaction.

The meeting went on for a few more hours and Harry's attention slipped from it into a sort of calming trance of chocolate clouds and starlight while keeping a part of conscious thoughts on the meeting. Though he didn't notice when it was decided they took a quick break.

"Would you want a chocolate dipped Ginny, Harry?" The voice of Professor Dumbledore spoke, promptly pulling him out of the trance.

"W-What?" Harry asked in a breaking high pitched voice which was a bit louder than usual.

"I said, would you like some chocolate dipped jellies?" Dumbledore asked again amused as he offered Harry a tray with the sweets. Harry took one and immediately popped it in his mouth, involuntarily closing his eyes as the sweetness burst in his mouth. A soft smile formed on his lips as he savored the flavor, until he heard that unmistakable snicker, opening one eye at first, he fully opened both of them when he saw the Weaselys looking at him strangely.

"You know Harry?" Fred began

"You really should…"George continued

"… put silencing charms on your bed."

"Neville…" Harry began, turning a warning look at his friend.

"I swear I didn't say anything…." The other pleaded though he should have shut up right then… "Seamus, Dean and I heard you mumbling something about clouds, starlight and dipping something in chocolate… you were looking quite flushed then we thought you were cold or something, since you kept pressing under the sheets and your pillow… I ran out to get help, we really thought you were sick Harry or having … you know, one of those nightmares again…"

By now Harry's eyes were wide open, his neck, face and ears were quite a shade of red, but he couldn't find the voice to stop Neville's rambling monologue.

"I was able to get Fred and George and they said not to worry about it... Fred said he had an idea of what's going on… I was going to get Madam Pomfrey but George pulled me back to the dorm… Then you started trashing and moaning… then you said something about apples and moonbeams… and you moaned again so loud, I though you were in pain because you shuddered a bit then mumbled out about something having red-hair everywhere … you shuddered and trashed again and moaned, I was pretty sure whatever was happening in your dream, it was quite painful… but…." Harry had had enough and silenced Neville by lifting a finger in the air infront of his face.

"Not another word…please…" Harry managed to choke out while doing a perfect impersonation of a tomato.

"Neville… you could be a saint if you didn't know what was happening…" Bill, who was behind Neville, whispered to him.

"Well, Ron was probably out like a log if he didn't notice that." Percy added logically

"The house elves are in for a surprise…" Fred then said

"… Haven't seen bedsheets that wet since… well, since Angelina…" George was about to continue but Fred jumped on him and covered his mouth tightly with both hands.

'Bloody Hormones!' Harry thought and groaned again as Mr. Weasely caught his eye.

However any further talk was interrupted by Moody's voice coming over the intercom.

"We've got the feed from France coming in…Screen One is our ground recon team and Screen four is the patch from our contact in the muggle Airforce."

Harry promptly took his seat with the council, all thoughts of his earlier embarrassment forgotten as he kept an eye on both the large screen showing a map of France, which had various blips flashing different colors, and his own panel displaying the same map as a background with a picture-in-picture scene from the two feeds.

They were already expecting something terrible but the words 'terrible' and 'tragic' would just prove to be understatements.

28 September 1996

Capt. Rudolph 'Oddball' Fellows, RAF. had been serving in the Royal Air Force for almost fifteen years with distinction. He was a quiet and dedicated man, didn't socialize much with the boys, but was so dependable on the stick that lots of his mates often request him as their wingman and more often than not, immediately volunteer to be his. This was proven by his experience in the numerous sorties he participated in during the FalkLand and Gulf Wars. However, it was due to his odd nature, the trainers promptly called him 'Oddball', a callsign that stuck. He didn't mind though, because he had always accepted the fact that he would always be different in the two worlds he lived in. For the tall and lanky man now flying his NATO Sea Harrier II on a recon mission, at the behest of the French Government, a hundred fifty nautical miles from Paris, was infact a squib.

"Sentry One, Reece 1-1. request picture." He called to the E-2 AWACS that was monitoring the skies for five hundred miles around its orbiting position over the English Channel.

"Reece 1, picture is clear. We show you at mission point Alpha. Standby for orders" the female voice of the controller called. Not a few moments later she came on again. "Reece 1, your cleared for insertion. Turn right heading 105, start recon profile and descend to 2000. Watch your back guys."

"Roger, Sentry One. Reece is cleared for insertion. Get the 'Bars' ready for our holiday pics" Capt Fellows confirmed his orders then switched to his flights local channel.

"Ready package Baker, we're going in…" he called to his wingman, Lieutenant Geoffrey 'Baker' James, who responded by simply calling out "two".

Meanwhile…

Two dark figures were zooming not more than ten feet over the French country side, casting fleeting shadows on the ground at the maximum cruising speed of the Firebolts they rode.

"Great Merlin!" the Unspeakable named Croaker exclaimed as they both stopped abruptly and landed not more than fifty miles from Paris.

"Frontline, this is Bode… are you getting this?" He asked.

"We see it, but we don't understand what's so interesting with a pile of boulders…" the voice of Shacklebolt came on the com.

"Hold on…I'm setting for wide angle.. there" As he adjusted the lens on his headmounted camera he heard a series of gasps from the other side.

"If we're seeing it correctly, it looks like the boulders and the cars had been pushed out to their current location by something… can you find the center?" Remus then asked, although he already had his suspicions.

"That's just it, it goes as far as I can see… and I'm guessing that it might just go on until Paris…" Croaker continued.

"Look. up there?" Bode pointed at two dark points in the sky that was approaching fast.

Suddenly, two jets passed silently passed overhead followed by a pair of ear shattering booms as the two jets flew by at speeds in excess of Mach 1.

"Will you look at those things go!" a wide eyed Croaker exclaimed.

"They sure are in a hurry…" Bode then added.

"Ground team, hold your position, we've got eyes in the air taking a look." Shacklebolt then ordered.

"That wouldn't be two muggle jets now, would it?" Bode then asked as he looked at Croaker. Both just shrugged at the thought that muggle planes doing the eyeball for them.

"We're getting feed from one of the planes…" Moody growled, not needing to explain further.

"Roger… shall we proceed to target two?" Bode then asked and inquired if they should proceed to Beauxbatton Castle.

"You're cleared to twenty miles minimum apparition, and then continue on broomstick." Tonks on Tactical then ordered the confirmation.

"Copy that." Croakers replied as the two unspeakables promptly disappeared.

On board Reece Flight 1…

"I see scorch marks and blast thrown debris all over" Baker called out.

"Roger that two, Looks like a Class One incident. I'm guessing it's a small scale neutron from the low rad count." Oddball supplied as he check the Geiger counters.

"Terrorists?..." Baker then speculated.

"Neg on that two, our job is to look-see, let the brass do the thinking…" Oddball reprimanded his wingman, though he didn't need to guess who caused this attack. For as he broke left to cover the northern end of the devastation, he was positive he saw the Dark Mark looming over what once was the Arc de Triomphe. Before he could give it more thought though, the E2 suddenly called out to them.

"Reece flight, Sentry One. Heads up guys. Bogies inbound 120 clicks north-northwest of your position, coming in subsonic at Angels 05. "

"Copy that Sentry One, state the ROE." Oddball asked for the Rules of Engagement, while duly noting the location bearing and distance, as well as the altitude of the contacts.

"Intel wants you boys to take a look then haul on back here quick. Target Ident shows unknown configuration, but there's a lot of them. We estimate a count of 12 unknowns, but their weird signature keep jumping to as much as twenty to less than six. Do not engage, repeat, do not engage. Hand-off will be with Falcon Squadron on Hi-CAP"

"Roger Sentry one." He replied, noticing that Baker was closing in to join him.

"Two. Back with you. So… shall we have a look-see at our guests?" His wingman inquired. Oddball's only answer was to click his mike twice and shoving his throttles to max military in an attempt to tag the unknown contacts, while keeping a close eye on his fuel gauges.

'I really hope we wouldn't have to dance' was the last calm thought he had as he felt himself being shoved back into the ejection seat.

While the two NATO Harriers were speeding off to identify the intruders, Frontline's Operations was still struck dumb by what they've just witness. The destruction was absolute. Everything within ten miles of what Captain Fellows surmised as ground zero was vaporized, beyond that to around thirty miles everything was a smoldering ruin. Only the basements on buildings where left to indicate that this was once a sprawling city. And from approximately thirty to fifty miles shock blown debris of differing sizes and shapes, the blackened remains of whatever material could burn, lay testament to the clinical precision of the destruction.

"H-how could this…" A short, dark haired aide began, but as the tears began to fall from hers and as well as many others that lay shocked in Operations of Frontline HQ, she fell silent.

"Get a grip people… we are only gathering data for now and not even directing an attack. These people are already dead, if you can't handle that, I don't know how you'll be able to handle sending directions that could lead to your controls' death." Moody's gruff voice broke through the somber mood. "I need focus, people or get the hell out of my Center!" If the threat wasn't enough, it was Moody's growl the followed that broke the stupor.

"Tactical, I want an analysis on power requirements to generate that kind of destruction AND I want you to start working on a counter…" Moody said. Not waiting for Tonks' reply as he tapped he stood up and went to the Meeting room.

'If Voldemort has access to muggle weaponry… By Merlin, so can we.' The veteran auror thought grimly as he entered the Council meeting room.

TBC

Next on: Harry Potter - Way of the Force:

"Tally, Tally, Tally. We've got twenty-four… disregard… that's twenty-eight unidentified flying objects with hostile intent. That's two-eight UFO's…" Baker called out to the AWACS as he jinked the Harrier violently to avoid the red laser beams emitted by the alien fighters.

"Say again, Reece Two… UFO's…?" the unbelieving voice of the AWACS controller inquired.

"For the love of God woman! Send those blasted Falcons in now! We're being overrun by Aliens here!" He shouted exasperatedly back.