Chapter Four: Arrival at Hogwarts
As the ship landed on Earth, being careful to stay cloaked so no muggle equipment could pick it up, the group of Jedi were experiencing a range of emotion, ranging from curious and excited (Anakin and Syra, who was Obi-Wan's Padawan), to alert and wary (Mace, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Hikari and Sora) to tense and wary (Harry). Although Sora and Hikari weren't Knights, they carried lightsabers as they had had basic defence lessons in case the Temple was ever attacked.
They disembarked and then the group turned as one to Harry, their looks all saying the same thing, that being 'What next'. Harry looked round; they had landed near a forest which looked oddly familiar to Harry. Extending his senses the Knight grinned.
"We're at the back of the forest that extends onto the grounds of Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry, also known as simply Hogwarts." He looked up at the sky before grimacing at seeing the full moon that hung overhead.
"Full moon. Be very careful, there might be werewolves around and we don't want to run into one" he continued.
"What are werewolves?" Obi-Wan asked with a frown. Harry looked at him and smiled slightly. "Werewolves are people who, every full moon turn into a vicious wolf, one that has no thought except for killing or hurting other people. A werewolf can be controlled through the use of the wolfsbane potion which gives the person control over the animal, but not many werewolves can afford to buy it. If one bites you then you'll turn into one every full moon for the rest of your life."
The Jedi shivered and then looked at the forest with slight apprehension. Mace then asked, "Is it safe here Harry?"
"Safe enough as long as we're careful Master. Just be on the lookout and don't walk towards any rustling bushes. We should be ok."
With that he walked off around the edge of the forest. The other Jedi followed him, being careful to stay on the alert. Anakin and Syra stayed closer to their respective masters than they otherwise might have, neither of them wanted to run into a vicious animal in the dark. Feeling their discomfort, both Harry and Obi-Wan sent reassurance and comfort through their bonds and the two younger Jedi relaxed.
After about half an hour they reached the outer edge of the forest and could see the beginnings of the Hogwarts grounds. That was when they heard an ominous growl from their left. Turning to look, Harry immediately got in front of the group his arms outstretched to block the others from getting around him. Anakin was confused by Harry's behavior and questioned him through their bond.
Master, why are you standing there, it's just a dog. Watch, I'll show you.
As Harry said, No it's not it's a werewolf Anakin stepped around him and walked up to the snarling canine in front of them. The Jedi apprentice then smacked the werewolf on the nose and said in a loud, commanding voice, "Bad dog. Go away and lie down somewhere, stop scaring my friends."
The werewolf that Harry now recognized as Moony yelped in shock and pain but then obediently turned tail and ran off. Anakin turned back to see Harry staring at him in shock. He seemed to be having problems breathing.
"Master? Are you ok?" Anakin asked, worried. Harry looked at him for a few seconds and then stepped forward and yanked his braid hard. He stepped back and said, "What part of don't walk towards rustling bushes was unclear Padawan?"
"None of it, Master, it was just a dog though. I don't understand why you were worried."
"Anakin, that "dog" was a fully grown, adult werewolf. You just smacked a werewolf on the nose and told it to go away. The only reason it didn't attack you was because it was probably under the influence of the wolfsbane potion. Don't do that again, you nearly gave me a heart attack."
Anakin swallowed upon hearing that he'd smacked a werewolf and then his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted. There were a few muffled snickers from Mace, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan while Harry knelt beside his unconscious apprentice and revived him. Anakin awoke to see a pair of green eyes looking at him, eyes with a decided hint of amusement in them. Looking further, he saw a very pronounced smirk on Harry's face. Harry helped Anakin up and then asked, "What kind of Jedi does a very dangerous thing and then faints upon hearing of the danger afterwards?"
Anakin glared good-naturedly at his master and grumbled, "One who's still in training. Besides, from what you've told me about your childhood, you don't have any business lecturing me on foolhardy stunts."
Harry closed his eyes as he heard Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace and Sora break into laughter. Opening them he glared back at Anakin and said, "I told you those things with the intention of stopping you from doing similar things, not so you could do them and then throw my childhood misadventures in my face as an excuse. Besides, you deliberately did the opposite of what I told you to do, my adventures were usually outside my control and I was dragged into them through no fault of my own. Kindly cease and desist from using my experiences to justify your own disobedience. I don't like it."
Having said that Harry rose and extended a hand to Anakin, lifting him easily to his feet with one pull. Looking at the ground they still had to cover, Harry looked back at his group, one which contained four highly amused Jedi Masters and one Knight, and two Padawans, one of whom was confused and one who was still slightly shocked and also a bit subdued. Shaking his head, Harry raised his voice a bit.
"Let's keep going, we can make the castle in about 15 minutes if we move now." The group moved towards the castle, spreading out slightly now that sticking in a group wasn't as much of an issue. Harry took the opportunity to call Anakin up to walk with him.
"Are you ok Anakin?" Harry queried. Anakin looked at Harry, taking the opportunity to sort through his thoughts while he walked. At last he replied, "I think so. I didn't mean what I said to be hurtful Master, it just sort of slipped out."
Harry smiled. "I know you didn't Anakin, and I shouldn't have snapped at you the way I did. But, you have to understand, I know the dangers here so you should have listened to me when I said it wasn't a dog. You seriously scared me Padawan; I thought I was going to have to cope with an apprentice that turned into an uncontrollable monster once a month. I have nothing against werewolves in general; most of them are very nice people when they're not having their "time of the month" episodes. But, a Jedi as a werewolf? That would be complicated."
Anakin nodded. "I'm sorry Master. I did think it was a dog and I wasn't listening to you. Are things ok between us?"
Harry smirked and gave Anakin's braid a playful, gentle tug. "Yes of course. I'm not going to go all silent and cold on you like the last two months. That was an extreme situation, and one I hope will never be repeated. Just remember that while we're here, I'm likely to know more about what's safe and what isn't. If in doubt, ask me, whether out loud or through our bond."
Stopping briefly, Harry placed both hands on Anakin's shoulders and locked eyes with him. In a quiet, serious tone he said, "I've lost my parents to this world Anakin, as well as friends and surrogate family, I don't want it to claim my son as well. Will you promise me to at least think before jumping blindly into a situation here?"
Anakin swallowed and nodded. "Yes Master. You be careful too, you're the only father I've got, I don't want your past to tear you apart any more than you want me to be eaten by a werewolf."
Harry smirked and then his look turned feral. "There's no worries there Anakin, they've had 16 years to think of a suitable apology but I'm going to somewhat enjoy making them sweat a little before I accept it. There are some people who don't need to apologise as they never betrayed me, but the majority, oh yes they will be squirming slightly. One in particular I want a very large apology from."
"Who?" Anakin asked.
"My former mentor, Albus Dumbledore" came the reply. Anakin looked puzzled. "Master, if he's your former mentor, why don't you accept his apology and be done with it. That's what you've done if Master Windu has an argument with you."
Harry looked at his apprentice and smiled slightly bitterly. "It's not that simple Anakin. Dumbledore was my mentor yes, but I found out when I was fifteen, the same age as you are now, that he'd manipulated me all my time at Hogwarts. He left me with relatives who were abusive, who hated magic and therefore hated me. He then manipulated situations at Hogwarts so I would come to be dependent on him, would count on him always being there. Then, when I was 15 he started ignoring me, not even looking at me, because he was afraid that Voldemort, the Dark Lord I told you about, would possess me and then use my body to attack him. He also waited until my godfather was dead to tell me of the Prophecy which he could have told me about when I first asked him why Voldy wanted to kill me at age 11. Then, after a year of ignoring me, everything's fine again until my best friend turns up dead, and the evidence is such that on the surface it appears that I did it. Now, Dumbledore is the kind of wizard that is famous for giving second chances to people who most would cheerfully kill without a second thought. Yet, with me, the student that my least favorite teacher always accused of being his favorite, he wouldn't even consider the fact that I might be innocent. Nor did he defend me. He stood aside and let the corrupt government throw me in jail. Then, when he finally realized that I was innocent, I had already spent a year in a place that makes Korriban look like an Alderaanian health spa."
Looking grimly at the castle, which had grown closer as he'd talked, Harry finished with, "Dumbledore has a lot to answer for Anakin, and I won't put up with any manipulation if he tries it. I also won't accept any half hearted apologies either."
Anakin was shocked by the level of betrayal that his master had experienced at Dumbledore's hands. He shook his head and then ventured his opinion.
"Er, it sounds to me like you're carrying a grudge Master. I thought we weren't supposed to do that." He was surprised to hear a laugh from Harry.
"I'm not holding a grudge Anakin, I merely want the apology I'm owed, the one he tried to give 16 years ago that I couldn't accept due to the condition I was in. Now I'm in a condition to accept that apology but I also want it straight, not any "It was for the common good" crap."
Stopping again, Harry sank to his knees and breathed out, seeking calm and peace as he released his emotions to the Force and allowed it to flow through him giving him strength for the coming meetings.
Stepping up to the front doors he raised his fist and knocked on the wood. They swung open to reveal a familiar figure.
Stepping forward Harry said, "Professor McGonagall?" The witch looked at him with a puzzled gaze.
"Yes, do I know you?" she asked. Harry grinned and then replied, "Hmm lets see, do you remember the 150 points you removed from Gryffindor for a certain dragon smuggling incident? Or a certain underage Triwizard champion?" He removed his hood which he'd put back on for the walk up to the school and let his old Head of House look at him.
"Harry Potter" the Gryffindor Head of House said with a smile. "I do indeed remember those incidents. While you're standing there I'm going to take advantage of it and do something I've wanted to do since your sixth year, when you were taken to Azkaban."
Harry looked at her, puzzled, before stiffening in shock as the normally undemonstrative Deputy Headmistress abandoned her normal behavior and hugged him. "I gather that you and your companions are the help that the Minister promised?" Harry nodded and replied, "Yes we are Professor but don't say anything to anyone, I want to make an entrance."
"Just like a Marauder" McGonagall sighed before releasing him. "Very well, it should be amusing to see the look on Albus' face, not to mention Severus' when they see you. While you're here I intend to give you your wish of being an Animagus if you have the necessary ability."
"Thank you, now, I think we'd better make that entrance, it's a bit cold out here" Harry said, his confidence and good humor boosted by seeing his former Professor again. McGonagall nodded before saying one last thing before leaving to announce them, "Oh, Harry, you're not a student anymore. My name is Minerva, please use it." Harry smiled and gave a slight nod in return. With that McGonagall left to announce them. In a few minutes she returned to say that they were ready.
Looking at his friends and family, Harry said quietly, "Be prepared for anything, I may be happy to see some people here, such as Minerva but I don't know whether I can trust others, and that includes Dumbledore, who is the Headmaster. Let's get this show on the road."
McGonagall went first, with the Jedi behind her, wearing their hoods up to conceal their identities. Harry would reveal himself first and then as he introduced the others they would lower theirs. They stepped into the Great Hall which was empty of students as it was the summer break, although a crowd of people were present and looked to be discussing strategies for dealing with the problem of the Sith Lord. They looked up at the interruption.
"Minerva, I take it your companions are the help that Minister Bones promised us?" McGonagall nodded and then stepped aside, saying, "I'll let them introduce themselves. You do know at least one of them though."
Now she had Dumbledore's attention, as well as that of the rest of the Order, which included the Weasleys, Professor Snape, Draco Malfoy, Alastor Moody, and others who hadn't been in the Order when Harry was sent to prison. Remus was also present in his werewolf form, and he whined when he saw the Jedi that he'd encountered outside but didn't approach, not wanting to get smacked again, his nose was quite sensitive after all. Smiling wickedly under his hood, Harry stepped forward.
"May I introduce my companions" he started. Receiving a nod from Dumbledore he began. He left his hood up as he wanted to reveal himself last.
"May I introduce Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Healers Hikari and Sora, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Syra Veldt, and finally my own apprentice Anakin Skywalker. We're here to help get rid of this Dark Lord that's causing problems here." As each of the group was introduced they lowered their hoods.
There was a murmuring from around the table where the leaders of the Order were gathered and then Dumbledore moved towards them.
"We welcome your help but you haven't introduced yourself. We would like to know the identities of all our allies if you wouldn't mind.
Grinning again, Harry lowered his hood, allowing the assembled witches and wizards to see him clearly.
Smirking he locked eyes with Dumbledore and said, "Has it really been that long that you've forgotten your precious "Chosen One" Headmaster?"
Still smirking he stepped back to stand with the rest of the Jedi as chaos erupted around them.
Author Note
Hello people, this is a repost of the chapter that I posted early this morning. Several of you reviewed and pointed out that if it was a full moon then Remus couldn't be in human form and be Moony as well. When I reread it I realised that I did have this situation. I have now changed it so hopefully it works. The werewolf idea was submitted by PantherGuide as well as other ideas which I will be using in the next chapter or two.
Hope you continue to read and May the Force be with you.
Padawan Lynne
