Chapter Three: Return to Earth
As Harry and Anakin stepped into the middle of the Council chamber the Council members were happy to sense that the tension between the pair had vanished. They'd known of what had happened, but had let Harry handle it himself. They hadn't known the details of the punishment as it was considered a private matter between Master and Padawan, but it was clear that it had been effective.
"Knight Potter, Padawan Skywalker, know why you are here do you?" Yoda asked. Harry nodded and replied, "Yes Master, you have a mission for us, something to do with my homeworld."
"Yes Knight Potter that is correct" Even Piell stated. "We don't know how but a member of the Ministry of Magic in Britain contacted us and asked for our help in getting rid of a Sith Lord that has taken up residence there and is busy gaining followers among the population. They are creating havoc and the Ministry can't deal with it on their own."
"Let me guess, they found out that this was where I'd come after Azkaban and they want their Saviour back" Harry said in disgust. Anakin looked at his master in shock; he'd never heard Harry sound so bitter. The Council was shocked too but they were able to understand why he was like that. Even so he was a Jedi and it was unbecoming of him to act like that.
"Knight Potter, whatever your feelings towards the magical community may be, they asked for our help. We will give that help to them as it is in our interests as well to eradicate the Sith. You are being sent because it is your home planet and you know the area the best. And for the record, no they did not know where you went, this was a general request, not specifically for you."
Harry nodded and said, "I apologise Masters, my statement earlier was out of line." The Council looked at him and then nodded, satisfied. Harry then grinned. "If they don't know who's coming then won't they be in for a shock." His mischievous nature which rarely showed was tickled by the idea and he found himself looking forward to it.
"May I ask if Anakin and I are the only ones going?" Harry enquired. Mace shook his head. "No Harry, accompanying you will be Master Jinn, Knight Kenobi and Padawan Veldt, Master Hikari, Master Sora and myself. Sora and Hikari are coming because they want to have a few words with certain people on your planet, and they want to be there in case being back there causes all your hard work here to come undone. I am coming as both a member of the Jedi Council and also because I want a few words with a few people as well. Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi are coming because they have been to Earth before as well. Although Master Jinn and I, as well as Masters Hikari and Sora have seniority over you in terms of rank, you will be leading the mission as it is your world we'll be entering."
Harry nodded; shocked that he would be leading the mission when four Jedi Masters would be present. He was used to leading Anakin or other Knights but this was a new experience for him. Hiding his shock he said, "May we leave to prepare for the trip Masters?" The Council members nodded so Harry and Anakin bowed and left for their apartment, with Anakin having a lot of questions he wanted answered.
As they moved round the apartment gathering the things they would need, including extra charging equipment and spare parts for their lightsabers, Anakin asked questions while Harry answered them.
"Why did you say that stuff about them wanting their savior back Master?" Anakin asked. He heard a sigh and then the reply came back.
"Anakin do you remember last year when we talked about prophecies?" Anakin nodded before answering, "Yeah, you explained about the magical world then and your role in it. What does that have to do with what you said though?"
"Because of a prophecy and my mother's love for me, I survived a curse that was supposed to be impossible to survive. I was hailed as a hero, and was turned into a celebrity. I never wanted the fame that came with it; I wanted to be an ordinary wizard. However, the public wouldn't let me. I was stared at and whispered about in public; people came up and shook my hand. It was suffocating. Then, when Voldemort returned at the end of my fourth year of school, the public stuck their heads in the sand and refused to believe it. I was called an attention seeking liar among other things. However, then when it was proved beyond a doubt that Voldemort had returned, I was back to being a hero and they all expected me to save them. They expected a sixteen year old boy to save them from the Darkest wizard the world had ever seen. My reason for saying what I did, is that now, they have a situation they can't, or won't deal with and they want someone else to clean it up for them."
Another sigh came from Harry's direction and he continued, "Nevertheless, we are Jedi and personal feelings shouldn't come into account when we go to help them. They probably can't deal with this Sith, although I'm surprised that they haven't dealt with his followers yet. Still, we'll go and help and then come back here, back home."
"You don't consider Earth your home Master?"
"No Anakin I don't. I used to consider my school, Hogwarts, as home but what happened in my sixth year, when I was sent to prison due to a clever frame up destroyed that for me. This is my home, with the Jedi, and you."
"How long is the journey?"
"5 weeks so pack enough clothing for 3 months and you should be fine" came back the answer. Anakin shook his head but followed the instruction. Finally he asked a final question, even though he would ask more on the trip.
"Are you going to be ok Master? I mean, this is sounding like you're going back to your past, back to face everyone you left behind. Is it going to be ok?"
Harry smiled at Anakin's concern for him. "I'll be ok Anakin, it will be hard, facing all the people who used to be my friends, the people who betrayed me, but I'll deal with it. I have some consolation in knowing that it's been 16 years since I left so when I show up they'll be shocked. I also know that however I may feel about seeing them again, they'll probably feel worse. I left before they could properly apologise and they've had the past 16 years to think about that so I think they'll have come up with some good apologies."
Anakin snorted but sat down on the couch, dropping his bag beside him. "I'm ready Master, when are we leaving?"
"As soon as the rest of our companions are ready" came the reply.
15 minutes later the group of 7 boarded the transport and took off on the 5 week journey to Earth, which for Harry would indeed be a trip back into the past, a trip which would open up old wounds, lead to new discoveries, and give Harry a chance to finally put his past behind him once and for all.
