Emperor of Slytherin 5

Author's Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! I really appreciate it. I have decided that Vader will make more than one appearance so that should help you get your Vader fix. As to the other reviews: Sirius Black a Jedi? I'm afraid that might not fit into this story (but I have plans for a second SW/HP crossover when this one is finished). Remember Palpatine killed the Jedi and there's really no one around to train Sirius. In this time frame Yoda is either dead or dying, Obi-Wan is a ghost and Luke has learned the mere basics. Also the age thing comes to mind. Jedi usually start training when they're very young. Even Ani was considered too old in Episode 1! But we'll see… Ok, moving onto the Imperial Guard question. I did think about that when I started the story as they normally accompany Palpatine when he travels. But I couldn't have them follow him around at school. But they may make a guest appearance. Lucius ask Harry for help? I suppose he may if he was desperate enough, but it's still the first day of classes at Hogwarts… Oh, I'm not really sure exactly how many classes Hogwarts has each day SO I'm just revolving the classes each day. That is Palpatine will attend the same classes each day and creates havoc in them. Not exactly Hogwarts, I know, but close enough… And Yes, Lupin will return! Remember, when Harry and Draco are not in DADA Lupin is teaching other students so he's not exactly free… I will also try to create new lessons for Lupin to teach them (but I can't promise anything great). And now on with the story!

Palpatine cackled gleefully as he slowly made his way down the long torch lit hallway towards Herbology. His plan was going perfectly! He would turn the school upside-down while at the same time being the model student. It was so devious that they would be unable to expel him. And this was far more fun than chasing those drat Rebels around the galaxy. He knew where the Rebels would be and what would happen for he had foreseen it. Yes, he would destroy them with his new Death Star and Young Skywalker would join the Dark Side. But first he needed to attend to more important matters here on this backwater planet. A threat was lurking and he meant to destroy it. In due time the right person would show up and destiny would unfold as it had in his visions. Yes, it would be glorious! He would once again prove himself to be superior in both intellect and Force power while the other had his life drained slowly… And as for those Wizard fools, well, they would all bow to him. Yes, that was how it would be.

Since the other students had left the Great Hall before he had, Palpatine was the last to arrive at the greenhouse that served as a classroom. He simply observed for a long moment, watching as the others pulled on white lab coats. Well, they looked like lab coats to him. It was ironic how closely the Wizarding World paralleled the Muggle World, not that any of the wizards would ever admit that. But it was true and the Emperor knew it. They seemed to suffer a severe technology phobia but then that worked in his favor. Stepping forward, he pulled a white coat off a nearby hook and attempted to stick his hand into the sleeve hole. He managed this without difficulty, but couldn't seem to pull it up over his shoulder. "Drat! My arthritis is acting up again!"

This last bit the Emperor had said loudly so all in the room could hear him.

The Slytherins and Gryffindors stared at him with wide-open eyes. A few took hesitant steps backward, fear plain on their faces. Neville was one of them, of course. Madam Pomphrey had fed him a calming potion but now it was wearing off as the source of his fear was back again. He glanced towards the school hero, hoping against hope that Harry would do something spectacular and make the old man leave. But to his dismay the other boy was just buttoning his white coat. In fact, Harry wasn't even looking towards Palpatine at all. "Harry…"

"What is it, Neville?" Harry asked as he lifted his gaze to the frightened boy.

Neville's lower lip trembled and he simply pointed at the Emperor.

But before Harry could reply, he was shoved out of the way by an elbow in his ribs. Harry stumbled sideways and collided into Ron. Both boys tumbled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs.

"Don't worry, Longbottom. I'll take care of him for you." Draco boldly marched up to the elderly man who still struggled with the white coat. "Listen old man. You're giving Slytherin House a bad name. You're a disgrace, can't even put a coat on! You're worst than Potter and Dumbledore combined!"

Palpatine gazed at the blonde boy before him. "Will you help me with my coat?"

"I'm not a House Elf! I'm a Pureblood!" Draco snarled. The only reason why he was confronting Palpatine now was because his father was nowhere in sight and he didn't know when he'd get the next chance. More important, he wanted to prove to Potter that he wasn't scared of the old creep after all. His heart beat rapidly within his chest cavity and he felt partly out of control. The feeling was both scary and intoxicating at the same time. A rush of adrenaline coursed through his system, giving him the same type of high he felt during an exciting Quidditch match. Could this be why Potter kept playing the school hero all the time, to get this feeling? Of course, it could go terribly wrong at any second and that knowledge only seemed to increase the feeling. The Ice Prince of Slytherin stared down his nose at Palpatine, quite a trick since the older man was actually taller than him. Still, Draco was born a Pureblood and had been staring down at people since he had been old enough to understand what being a Malfoy meant and that had been very early. "Why, I bet you're not even an Emperor, are you? We would have heard of you if you were…"

"I assure you I am." Palpatine replied as he still struggled with the white lab coat.

"Well," Draco drawled. "If I were an Emperor I wouldn't be attending this dump. I'd be over at Durmstrung."

Palpatine finally pulled the coat on and coldly stared at Draco. "Do not play games with me, boy. You do not know who you trifle with."

"I do." Draco assured him, his heart half way up his throat. He was being reckless and knew it, yet now that he was on a roll he couldn't stop himself. He could feel dozens of eyes boring into his back and except for a few startled gasps the changing room was as quite as a tomb. "I'm twice the wizard you'll ever be! You're just an old man with bad skin and who can't even pull on a coat!"

"Is that so?" Palpatine's red eyes bore into Draco's gray ones. He could sense the fear that lurked just out of sight behind those overcast eyes. The boy was in over his head and he no doubt knew it, yet he didn't want to loose face in front of his classmates. That took guts and Palpatine admired it. To take on an older, far more experienced foe was either foolish or sheer bravery.

"Of course it is! I said so, didn't I?" Draco's legs were beginning to feel weak like jelly and he hoped he wouldn't be required to move quickly. If Palpatine whipped out that red blade he was done for. It was all he could do to keep his knees locked and keep standing on his feet.

"Fine!" Palpatine cried. "Let us see who will do better at the next lesson, shall we?"

"I'll beat you!" Draco vowed, hoping it were true. He was quite good at Herbology so he knew he had a better than fair chance of beating the zombie. Now if only his nerves would settle down. He felt edgy, his nerves raw. If someone unrepentantly touched him he'd probably shriek like a girl and that would be unforgivable. He'd never live that down and Potter would keep reminding him over and over every chance he'd get. Worst, his Father would hear and then he'd really be in trouble! And where was Father anyway?

While Palpatine had headed to Herbology, Lucius had walked Professor Snape to the Dungeon. "Tell me Severus, do you know anything about that skin condition Palpatine suffers from?"

"I know it's annoying and extremely troublesome." Snape replied as he stalked towards his Potions classroom. "Shouldn't you be trailing after Palpatine, Lucius?"

"I'm sure he can manage for a few minutes by himself. Besides, what possible trouble could he cause in a room full of plants?" The things Palpatine had told him still rolled around in Lucius' mind and he found them troubling. And if he wasn't mistaken, the man had told him the truth. "Do you know what he told me, Severus?"

"No." Snape said as he stared directly ahead. "But I suppose I must suffer through whatever nonsense he told you, as you seem set on telling me."

"He said being a Dark Wizard is what caused his skin to decay…" Lucius said as he glanced at the other Death Eater. "Do you think there's any truth in that?"

"I think you're exceedingly vain." Snape scowled. The Potions Master stopped in the hall near his classroom and stared the other man in the face. "Are you going to start carrying a mirror around now, Lucius? As if you weren't vain enough before…"

"How dare you!" Lucius' blue-gray eyes flashed with anger and his lips curled into a snarl. "At least I take care of myself! That's more than what you do!"

"And what do you mean by that remark?" Snape demanded to know, his eyes darkening.

"When was the last time you washed that sorry excuse for hair? It's a miracle you're not bald!" Lucius taunted, his gloved fingers tightening around his snake-headed cane. "And to think they have you teaching children!"

But Snape wasn't intimidated. He simply glared down his exceedingly large shiny nose at the white haired Pureblood. "I can see you'll get no where with Palpatine. Potter will save the day again, just as he always does. And then you can go crawl back to your Manor and hide from shame."

With that, Snape turned on his heel and stormed into his classroom. The door banged loudly and Lucius found himself alone in the deserted corridor. Anger bubbled inside him and seemed to beat in time to the flickering torchlight. Severus had gotten the last word and it had stung badly. How dare he, a mere teacher, suggest that he couldn't handle Palpatine! "I'm not going to go crawling to Potter for help! Never!"

Lucius reminded himself that he was a Death Eater, a loyal follower of Voldemort. And Voldemort was the world's most powerful wizard!

Or was he?

A flicker of doubt crept in and suddenly he wasn't too sure anymore. And hadn't the argument with Snape started because he had worried that Voldemort hadn't been truthful with him? But instead of taking his question seriously, Snape had attacked his vanity. Then things had gotten out of control and they had fought. And he still didn't have an answer!

"Severus would probably be glad if I ended up looking like that zombie!" Lucius muttered as he made his way up out of the dungeon. Normally he'd never dare speak to himself like this, as it was against the Malfoy Code of Conduct. But it only expressed how upset he was. Although he told himself it was just proper grooming and required for his job at the Ministry, the truth was he was vain. He clothing had to be just so and made of the best materials, his hair perfectly neat and his skin well cared for. So when Palpatine had informed him what Dark Wizardry could DO to a person, well, it was a horrible shock. Not that it happened to all Slytherins. But then most Slytherins were not Death Eaters and seeking incredible power… "He's always been jealous of my good looks…"

Yes, that was it! Severus knew it was true and had refused to tell him!

He rounded a corner and to his relief the Herbology greenhouses were just up ahead. He pushed open the door and entered, not bothering to take a white lab coat from a hook. He would just be observing, not repotting plants as the students no doubt were doing.

Inside the big greenhouse the Third Years were listening to Professor Sprout. The stout teacher spoke loudly and clearly so all could hear her. "Today we will be harvesting Snapper-Saw berries. Who here can tell me why we harvest them?"

Hermoine's hand shot up into the air.

"Miss Granger?"

"Snapper-Saw, or Forester's Bane as it's more commonly called, produces berries rich in protein. They are used in feeding patients who are too ill to eat tougher and more solid forms of protein. But it's exceedingly dangerous. The plant has sharp blade-like leaves that can slice through skin like a knife through melted butter. The shrub is carnivorous and feeds on the victim's blood."

Ron's face twisted up in disgust and he nervously eyed the thick shrubs that grew down the center of the greenhouse. The shrubs were near six feet tall and just as thick. Solid dark green leaves with ribbed edges stuck out from the outer perimeter of the plant while taller smooth leaves grew in the center. It didn't help that the center leaves reminded him of swords. He glanced at Harry, frowning. "This is going to be even worst than last year!"

"Tell me about it…" Harry agreed but stared at the plant before him as if it were Voldemort himself. He started to mentally prepare himself for the upcoming challenge. He had to do this.

Draco looked uncertainly at the Snapper-Saws, the skin around his mouth turning white. It was clear this was going to be harder than anything he had ever done in Herbology before…

"Wonderful! Ten points to Gryffindor!" Professor Sprout cried happily. "Now are you all wearing your dragonskin gloves? Good! Then I'll show you how to harvest the berries. It's not too dangerous if you know what you're doing and if someone gets a limb hacked off, well, I'm sure Madam Pomphrey can regrow it…"

Harry and Ron exchanged nervous glances, the red-haired boy near panic now. He silently mouthed the words 'regrow limbs?' to his best friend. Harry nodded but decided to watch the teacher closely. If someone was going to get stuck in the hospital ward it sure wasn't going to be him!

"Now, when you approach the shrub it will try to grab you with the outer leaves. See how they're ribbed? They may not look it, but they're incredibly strong. If they do grab you, the plant will draw you close to the center and will try to hack you with the saw-like blades that grow there. Now the berries that we want grow on a stalk that sticks up from the exact center…"

"It figures…" Ron muttered.

"They're bright red…" Professor Sprout continued.

"Like blood…" Ron shivered. Herbology was quickly replacing Potions as his most hated class. At least his potions teacher didn't try to hack him into little bits. Yet.

"Now everyone pick up their harvester…" Professor Sprout picked up a long pole that had a clasping end similar to a snappy clothespin. She stepped near the Snapper-Saw and carefully used the other end of the harvester to secure a firm hold on the berry stalk rising from the plant's center. "Once you got a firm grip, you can start picking the berries using this other tool, the berry picker. Now you must be gentle so the ripe berries don't burst…"

Harry gulped but picked up the two long poles and cautiously approached one of the bushes. As soon as he stepped near, the outer ribbed leaves started to shake and writher excitedly. The thing was definitely ALIVE…

"You must pick one berry at a time…" Professor Sprout instructed as she carefully placed a berry into a nearby metal pail. "The hospital wing needs every berry on these shrubs so be careful not to waste any."

Draco sneered. Berry picking! This was more servant stuff! But he bent and picked up the two long instruments as he was determined to beat the old zombie. Besides, the entire classroom was watching. He just had to make certain to stay out of the plant's reach is all…

Emperor Palpatine had the shrub next to Draco's and he used the Force to call the long wooden tools to his gnawed hands. Then he laughed and threw the tools aside. "I don't need apparatus when I possess the Force!"

Palpatine held his hand out towards the plant and berry after berry was magically yanked off the stem to float in the air. When the last one had been plucked, they gently settled into the pail at Palpatine's feet. The Emperor gloated at the blonde Slytherin, a broad grin on his decaying face.

Draco's narrow face twisted up in fury, his gray eyes turning stormy. The zombie had beaten him already!

Then a loud shriek filled the room and every head snapped around to see what had happened. Neville had gotten too close to his shrub and had fallen in! The ribbed leaves quivered with excitement as they clutched at the wildly struggling boy and eagerly pulled him closer to the deadly center leaves. The blades in the center started to whip about, the edges seemingly razor sharp.

"Harry! Do something! He'll be cut to shreds!" Hermoine cried. She desperately tried to dig her wand out of her robe pocket but the white lab coat was in her way. She struggled to pull the coat up but it refused to cooperate and instead clung to her hips stubbornly. In desperation he tore at the buttons hoping she had enough strength to break the threads.

Harry was about to dash forward when suddenly bluish-white bolts of lightning appeared from nowhere to strike the plant! Startled and confused, he turned to look the other way and saw Palpatine was making the bolts. The lightning emerged from his fingertips and effortlessly flew across the room to hit the carnivorous shrub. The Snapper-Saw squealed in pain and it released Neville. Madam Sprout hurried over and pulled the terrified boy away from the danger.

"Oh, I do hope I was quick enough…" Palpatine remarked, worry clear in his voice. He turned the Sith Lightning off and tried his best to look humble, which he did very well. Still, this had the opposite affect on most of the students in the room. They glanced from him to the smoldering black remains of the Snapper-Saw, fear written all over their faces. They had never heard of such a spell and it surely was Dark Magic. They nervously glanced at each other and shifted their weight from one foot to another, the long tools forgotten and dropped onto the floor. Everyone backed away from the Snapper-Saws but wisely kept their eyes on Palpatine. The same thought was on all their minds; that he really was Lord Voldemort back from the grave and more powerful then ever, clearly possessing new unheard of Dark Magic. Worst, he didn't even need a wand to do it! To do such a powerful spell without a wand or saying an incantation was unheard of. It was darn right freaky!

Neville lay on the floor, his body trembling as tears leaked down his face. He had been sure he was going to die…

Professor Sprout attempted to comfort him but to no avail. The boy was too distraught to think clearly. He would have to be taken to the hospital wing and Madam Pomphrey.

"Is he OK?" Hermoine asked, concern in her voice. "The Snapper-Saw didn't get him, did it?"

"No, it didn't." Professor Sprout said with utter relief. "But he needs to go to the Hospital…"

"I'll take him there." Lucius sighed but stepped forward. This would be the second time today he would be escorting Longbottom to the hospital. His anger at Severus had disappeared when he had seen what Palpatine could do. In all the Dark Wizard books he possessed in his large library at home, never had he read about such a spell. To actually reproduce one of nature's most powerful displays was unheard of. And if he was not mistaken, a look of joy and glee had been on the man's face while he had been frying the shrub. And that was very disturbing. Perhaps Severus was correct and he was out of his league in handling the man. He gripped Longbottom by his arm and pulled the boy to his feet. With Neville clinging to his arm like before, he led him out of the greenhouse. Perhaps he should take the time to report this latest development to Dumbledore…

"Class dismissed!" Professor Sprout called.

There was a mad rush to the exit and soon the greenhouse was empty except for the Herbology teacher. Staring at the still smoking ruins, she shook her head and started to clean it up.

Draco was furious and stomped down the torch lit hallway. The zombie had beaten him twice, twice! First he had picked all the dumb berries and then he had done the heroic rescue of that twittering idiot Longbottom! The whole school would soon know about it, too! Worst, he hadn't gotten the chance to pick even a single stupid berry. He, the famous Draco Malfoy, had lost to a half-dead walking corpse! "I'll get him! I swear I'll really get him for this!"

Without thinking about it, he turned down the hallway towards Transfiguration.

"Draco!" Crabbe called and hurried to catch up with him. "Everyone is going the other way!"

Draco stopped and turned to glare at the chubby boy. "What do you mean? Our next class is with McGonagall."

"Yes, but the bell didn't ring yet! We still have twenty minutes and that old creep went outside! Everyone followed him…" Crabbe explained in a rush, one word pouring over another so fast that Draco could barely understood what he had said. "Are we going to follow him?"

"Of course we are!" Draco started back down the hall, his long robe flowing out behind him. His heels hit the floor with force and he was sure he'd ruin his expensive shoes but he didn't care. His Father would just buy him more. He was still boiling mad that the old creep had bested him. It was bad enough when the Mudblood beat him in every subject and now this! He shoved the door open and quickly stalked outside. It was unusually chilly for September and the air nipped at his exposed face. He quickly saw the knot of students standing on the green expanse on the hill near Hagrid's horrible hut and he joined them. Goyle was already there and annoyance shot through the blonde's body. Gregory was supposed to be loyal to him, not that zombie! Then it dawned on him that Goyle was staring upward. "What are you gawking at?"

"Look!" Goyle said as he pointed up at the sky.

Draco tilted his head back and soon saw something was moving up in the sky. He couldn't tell what it was, just that it was large and getting larger. At first he thought it might be some strange creature, some new horrible monster that Hagrid had kept hidden from Dumbledore but it soon became obvious that was incorrect. Sunlight reflected off the smooth surfaces as the thing came lower and lower. It was white and had an odd shape. A shark-like fin stuck straight up in the air and pair of wings jutted out to each side, a central body in the middle.

"What is it?" Someone asked.

"It looks like a Muggle airplane!" Semus cried. One of his parents was a Muggle so he was a bit familiar with Muggle things. "Still, I've never seen anything like this thing!"

The other Muggle-borns in the crowd murmured their agreement. It was clearly Muggle-made.

Everyone watched as the wings folded up to join the fin and the thing settled down to the grass. Then a mouth started to open, white smoke puffing out from the black maw. The door moved downward and soon became a ramp. More billowy white smoke issued forth into the cold air and from that smoke a black figure appeared. The students became silent as they gaped at this new person, if it was a person. Whoever it was, he was dressed all in black: a black mask and helmet, black armor and a long black flowing cape. The only color appeared to be some blinking red lights on his chest.

Darth Vader had arrived at Hogwarts.

To be continued…

I will try to get the next chapter up tomorrow! Hope you liked this one. It's already after midnight here and I need to get some sleep…

Its now 1:30 AM. I FINALLY got this chapter uploaded! The file refused to open no matter what I did. It kept saying it was an invalid file name or unknown zone. Weird. I finally ran the program called ScanDisk and that fixed it. Apparently the disk surface had gotten damaged somehow - I have no idea how. Its a floppy disk. So this entire chapter was almost lost! If this happens to you, try running ScanDisk on the Advance mode.