Chapter Seven: Meetings and Confrontations

"There is one thing I'd like to do while I'm here though" Harry said to McGonagall as he walked into the Great Hall where Dumbledore, Madame Bones, various members of the Order of the Phoenix and the rest of his Jedi friends were waiting. McGonagall stood next to him as Dumbledore stood up.

"Ah Harry, you're here. Good, now we can get down to business. First though, what did you want to do besides fighting this Dark Lord that's causing havoc here?"

Harry looked at Dumbledore and said calmly, "That's Knight Potter to you Headmaster and not that it's any of your business but I want to visit my parents' graves, and say goodbye properly. I've never had that chance."

Dumbledore looked taken aback. "Are you sure that's wise Harry? Your attention should really be focused on this war here; we need you to be the Chosen One again. I'm afraid I can't allow you to do what you want to do."

The temperature abruptly dropped as Harry narrowed his eyes at the old wizard. "Excuse me," he said in a deadly, and ice cold tone of voice. "I could have sworn you just forbade me to visit my parents' graves. Let me tell you something, Headmaster, you do NOT have any power over me in any way, shape or form. I am a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic. I am here to help but don't you dare presume to treat me like your little pawn again."

Dumbledore looked shaken, and then he did something very, very stupid. He opened his mouth. "Harry, I'm afraid for you. You've seen a lot of pain in your life. If you continue to fight me, then you risk following Tom's path. I don't want to see that happen."

Harry had turned away while Dumbledore was speaking but now he spun back round. The look in his eyes made even Snape take a few steps back and he found himself next to Anakin. The former spy leaned over to murmur in the Padawan's ear, "Was this what he was like when you had your little drugs adventure?" Anakin, not taking his eyes off his master replied softly, "Not quite. There are some similarities, his tone of voice for one, and the feeling that you're not quite sure what he's going to do next. It's different though."

Snape nodded before murmuring, "Even if it is different, I still feel sorry for you. It must have been unpleasant." Anakin nodded again before saying, "It was. I felt sorry for myself too, and one experience of it is quite enough thank you very much."

Meanwhile Harry was trying to get a grip on his temper. In an even more quiet, dangerous tone he hissed out, "You have no idea what darkness is old man. While you've been sitting here sucking on those lemon drops of yours, I've been out there, risking my neck fighting forces and entities that would make Voldemort shiver in fear." He took a deep breath and then hissed "I may be here to help but I'm not sticking around afterwards. I'm through with you, Hogwarts, and Earth and I swear, if you don't tell me where my parents are buried I will bring this pile of rock down round your ears and there will BE NO HOGWARTS!"

Harry turned on his heel and said over his shoulder, "I'm going to go fly for a bit to cool down, we can have this meeting later." As he was walking towards the door, Dumbledore shut and locked it with his wand. Harry turned back to face him, his eyes glowing with an anger that none of the Jedi had known that he possessed. Just then the windows of the Great Hall blew out in a spectacular series of explosions. Anakin in particular was caught between fascination and horror, and a realization that maybe, just maybe, he could open up to his master about the anger that resided within himself, without being judged for it. Dumbledore then waved his wand again and a holographic image of a young Tom Riddle appeared.

"Look at the physical similarities between yourself and Voldemort" Dumbledore announced. Looking at Harry, and at Tom, the onlookers had to admit that there were similarities, even Harry admitted that. The thing which sold the physical resemblance was the similar anger in the eyes of the two wizards. Then Anakin asked a question.

"Um, Master?" he started. Harry turned to look at his apprentice, and his gaze softened slightly as he reined in his temper with a huge effort while at the same time mentally reassuring Anakin that he wasn't annoyed at him via their bond.

"Yes Anakin" he replied. Anakin took a couple of steps closer and peered at the hologram. "Um, I know this is going to sound odd, and don't kill me for it but, are you sure that Voldemort isn't your father?"

Harry breathed out in a slightly frustrated fashion before letting a little of his normal humour slip through his annoyance and anger at Dumbledore. Walking to where his Padawan stood, he placed his hands on his shoulders, and bent his knees slightly so that their eyes were dead level. Speaking to Anakin, but in a loud enough voice that everyone else would hear as well he said, "If Voldemort were my father then I would have willingly taken a Killing Curse between the eyes long ago. I am not him."

Letting go of Anakin and stepping around him so that he was near to Dumbledore, Harry raised his eyes to meet those of his former mentor. With emphasis on every word the Jedi Knight said, "I am Harry James Potter, and I am a JEDI. NOTHING would ever make me turn to the Dark Side. If you still think that I would, Dumbledore, then you truly do not know me."

With that he turned into his falcon animagus form and flew out the window, leaving a stunned group of people behind him. That group soon split into two factions, one which supported Harry, and one which supported Dumbledore. It was amusing to notice that there was only one person on Dumbledore's side, himself. The rest, led by the Jedi were on Harry's side and they were not happy. Over the next hour they verbally shredded Dumbledore as the old wizard was forced to reveal that he'd known about Harry's abusive childhood and the manipulations over the years. For the senior Jedi it was confirmation of what they already knew. For Anakin it was an eye-opening view into his master's past, which explained much of how he was at the present. It also explained his views on manipulation, on politics, and on slavery and child abuse. Several slavers had met their end "accidentally" when Harry had rescued their captives, and he had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Palpatine away from his Padawan. Anakin didn't fully understand why but he was sensible enough not to question Harry about it. Mace had to be restrained by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to stop him from killing Dumbledore. They weren't happy either but they realized that killing the old coot would lead to trouble they didn't need. Finally, the group exited as one, leaving Dumbledore alone to consider his mistakes, which had grown into a long list. Once outside they split up and Mace, Anakin and McGonagall went in search of Harry, to tell him the outcome of the meeting.

They found him at the top of the Astronomy Tower, looking out over the grounds. He turned slightly as they approached. "Hi everyone. What happened after I left?"

"Not much. Everyone pretty much ripped Dumbledore to pieces and they're worried about you. Ginny said something about checking Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Why would she say that?" Mace asked.

Harry chuckled bitterly. "Because the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in the bathroom. Only a Parselmouth can open it, and with Voldemort dead, I believe that I'm the only living Parselmouth unless there are others in different parts of the world."

"What's a Parselmouth?" Anakin asked. Harry smirked and then turned to McGonagall. "Could you conjure a snake Minerva?" The witch did so and Harry looked at it. As the small group watched, Harry hissed at the snake, which hissed back. After a series of hisses, Harry stepped back and nodded to McGonagall who vanished it.

"Parseltongue is the ability to talk to snakes Anakin. A Parselmouth is a wizard or witch with the ability to speak Parseltongue. Most British wizards and witches view it as a Dark talent. Just because Voldemort was a Parselmouth doesn't mean that every Parselmouth is Dark. I'm certainly not Dark and I'm a Parselmouth."

"Why did you come up here Harry?" McGonagall asked. Harry gave her a slightly sad look, and answered, "Because I can think better up here. I was going to fly but I wanted to stay on the ground in case you came looking for me."

He shook his head and then continued in a quieter tone, "How could he say that? How could he still believe that I would turn?"

"He's a manipulative bastard" Anakin growled. Harry glared at him and snapped, "Watch your language Padawan. I might agree with you but that's no reason to say it out loud." Softening his tone, he said, "I will not let him manipulate me like he did before, but can you see why I don't want you around him?"

"Yeah I can. I can't believe his nerve, thinking that he could tell you what to do. Even the Council have trouble with that and you like them."

Further conversation was stopped as Harry chuckled, before rolling on the floor in laughter. He finally regained his feet and affectionately ruffled Anakin's hair.

"Anakin, do me a favor will you. Never change. I needed that." Master and Padawan laughed even harder at Mace's grumbled, "I didn't."

As Harry headed for the staircase that led down inside the castle McGonagall stopped him. She held out a box, and looked at him with gentleness in her eyes that he'd never seen before.

"I believe you'll need this Harry. No one has been able to touch it since you left, it burnt anyone that tried."

Harry looked at her and then took off the lid. Inside was his wand, 11 inches of holly with a phoenix feather core. Slowly, he levitated it with the Force, not willing yet to touch it. Gently he closed his hand round it, ready to let go if it burnt him as well. There was no fear of that, the wand recognized its true master and settled in his hand, causing his aura to flare brightly like it had when he'd first got it, only more powerfully.

Bringing his wand to bear on one of the stones, Harry flicked it, and a beam of light shot out, reducing the stone to rubble. He then levitated one of the larger pieces and transfigured it with another flick and a thought of what he wanted it to look like. He grinned when he lifted the perfectly proportioned, miniature golden lion paperweight in his hand and presented it to McGonagall.

"Thankyou for everything you did for me Minerva" he said softly, before he transfigured another piece of stone into an arm holster and slid his wand into it. With his wand up his sleeve and his lightstaff on his belt, Harry finally felt properly armed for any battles that might come his way.

As they walked down to the Jedi suite as McGonagall called it, Anakin asked a question that had Harry feeling rather uncomfortable, and also had everyone that was with him looking at him and wanting an answer.

"Master, you don't trust Dumbledore any longer, I can sense that. But, what would you do if it came to a battle between the two of you?"

"It would depend on what type of battle you meant Anakin. Verbally, I'd win, but physically, I'm not sure."

"No I mean, what would you be feeling if he did force a fight?" Harry stopped and faced Anakin, the uncertainty showing clearly in his eyes. "I'm not sure Padawan. I will never trust him again, that much I am certain of, and it hurts to say that. He was my mentor, and no matter what happened between us, I was hoping for some sort of reconciliation. I don't think that that's going to happen anymore but I'm not sure whether I could fight him. Think about how you would feel if you were forced to fight me, in an all out, no holds barred duel, where one or the other of us would die. How would you feel?"

Anakin thought about it and then shook his head. "I'm not sure Master. I'm sorry for asking." Harry shook his head. "Don't be Anakin, if you didn't ask it someone else would have. I'm just not sure about my answer."

Anakin nodded and they walked back to the suite in companionable silence. Whey they got there they found a crowd consisting of the Weasleys, Remus, Tonks and Kingsley. Harry closed his eyes and fought the urge to Banish them all to the lake before reminding himself that he needed to hear them out and it would do nothing towards healing the breach between them if he went with his first instinct. Opening his eyes he said, "I suppose you want to talk to me."

"Yes Knight Potter we do" Remus answered. Harry looked at the werewolf in surprise, and was met with a slightly bitter smile. "I heard what you said to Dumbledore, and I am well aware that I also lost your trust 16 years ago. I'm not going to alienate you further by addressing you in a manner that you haven't allowed me to use."

Harry smiled. "Thankyou Remus. You've just gained a higher chance of forgiveness." Sweeping his gaze over the group Harry continued, "Let's go in."

They all crowded into the common room which expanded itself to hold them all comfortably. The assembled group of Weasleys, along with the two Aurors and Remus looked apprehensive, while Harry was keeping his expression neutral, giving them no hint of his feelings.

As the silence got more uncomfortable, Harry finally broke it. Giving his audience a stare that seemed to go right through them he said, "Why are you here?"

He was met with looks of disbelief and then Ron said, "To apologise. We're not expecting you to forgive us but we do want to apologise."

Harry looked hard at his once best friend and then smiled slightly. "Let's hear it then. You first."

Ron swallowed. Harry was more intimidating now than he was when he left and he didn't like being the one to go first. Summoning his courage he rose and walked straight up to Harry.

"Hit me" was all he said. Harry raised an eyebrow. "You want me to hit you" he clarified. Ron nodded. "You know I'm not good at talking about feelings, so if you hit me first I'll be able to apologise."

"It's going to hurt" Harry warned. Ron nodded. "I know, but not nearly as much as we hurt you."

Harry was surprised that Ron wanted him to punch him but he wasn't about to ignore his request. Drawing back his arm he broke Ron's nose with a textbook right hook that had a good amount of power behind it. Ron hit the floor and curled up, groaning. When he got to his feet he muttered,

"Damn mate you hit almost as hard as Hermione used to." Harry smirked. "If you can't talk now then we'll talk later tonight. I'll give you a bit of time to recover."

Ron nodded and sat back down, muttering "Thanks mate" although it was muffled from him trying to stem the bleeding from his nose. Harry wordlessly handed him a tissue and Ron took it, pressing it to his nose.

Switching his gaze to the rest of the Weasleys Harry smirked slightly. "Bill, Charlie, you didn't know me as well as the rest of your family. I'm going to make some assumptions here, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. You didn't know me, so when your family started saying that I was a delusional psychotic nutcase you believed them without bothering to look further."

Bill and Charlie nodded, both looking a bit ashamed. "We didn't know you as well as the rest of our family but we should have looked further. We're sorry."

Harry nodded. "You're really only guilty of believing your family, which I can't fault you for. I'm willing to forgive you as long as you remember one thing. No matter how things might appear on the surface, it won't always mirror what's underneath."

Bill and Charlie nodded, thankful that they were being allowed off the hook. Harry's gaze next turned to the twins who shivered under the stern look, which had grown colder than it had previously been.

"Gred and Forge, I must say that I'm disappointed. What reason do you have for turning your backs on me?"

The twins shared a look. Speaking in that weird way that they'd perfected over the years they said, "We didn't turn our backs on you mate. We might have said that to everyone but we were members of your support club."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, it would seem that I was wrong about you. Still, simply because I need test subjects, your way of getting back into my good books will be through helping me test a few pranks over the next few weeks, as well as showing me what Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes has come up with over the past 16 years. I haven't forgotten those portable swamps."

Fred and George looked relieved. "Pranks Harry? Since when did you do pranks?" Fred asked.

Harry smirked. "Since I took up my Marauder heritage. I am the son of Prongs, the godson of Padfoot and the former student of Moony. Wormtail was a traitor so we won't count him."

As the twins were gaping at him, Harry turned to Arthur and Molly and his expression changed from a cold yet neutral look, to one of disappointment and hurt. Both Weasley parents flinched slightly, but to their credit didn't try to look away.

The rest of the Weasleys looked uncomfortable. Noticing this Harry said "This might get uncomfortable for you, feel free to leave if you wish."

Ron, Fred, George, Bill and Charlie promptly got up and left, following the path that Mace, Anakin and Minerva had taken earlier, when they'd left Harry to deal with the group on his own as he'd silently requested.

"Tonks, Kingsley, I'm not quite sure what you're doing here. You were doing your jobs that day, and I know that you didn't like what happened at the trial. You're still my friends, there's nothing to forgive with you."

The two Aurors gaped at him for a minute before closing their eyes and visibly relaxing. "Thank you Harry" Tonks said softly. Harry nodded before motioning towards the door. Tonks and Kingsley took the hint and quickly left, leaving Molly, Arthur and Remus alone with Harry.

"Of all of the people here you and Ron were the ones that knew me the best. Mr and Mrs Weasley, you were my surrogate parents. I was looking forward to someday calling you my in-laws. Remus, you were my parent's friend, and my teacher. I did think of you as something like an uncle. Do you know how much you all hurt me when I was sent to Azkaban? Mr and Mrs Weasley, just because Dumbledore believed me guilty, didn't mean that you had to swallow your opinions and blindly believe him. I'm disappointed that you did that. You turned on me, what I want to know is why."

Turning to Remus, Harry's eyes darkened. "You were my last link to my parents Remus. Do you know how much I hurt when you compared me to Wormtail? I can assure you that my parents are not happy in the least with what you said, and they and Sirius have told me many times that what you said was wrong and unfair. I hope you've got a good explanation for why you saw fit to hurt me the way you did."

There was a short silence before Arthur Weasley spoke, his voice soft and strained.

"Knight Potter, we, we want to apologise. We shouldn't have believed Dumbledore the way we did, you're right about that. We didn't support you like we should have and we are deeply ashamed of that. The only explanation we can offer is that Dumbledore convinced us that you were guilty, and you know how persuasive he can be."

Harry nodded. He didn't like the fact that his surrogate family had been manipulated into hating him but still, they had had a choice. They had just chosen to not fight the manipulation.

"Remus? What's your explanation for what happened?"

The werewolf looked shaken. He had looked hopeful when Harry had forgiven the other Weasleys but was now realizing that he had left the hardest ones for last. Clearing his throat he said, "I'm not sure I can explain properly. I, it was like I was overcome. You know that I'm a werewolf, what you don't know is that under stressful conditions the wolf takes more control than the human. I didn't stop to consider that the evidence might be faked, and I should have. There was one time when I considered that you had been set up and I went to Dumbeldore with the news. He told me that he knew that I wanted to believe you but the evidence was clear, you were guilty. He managed to persuade me that you were guilty and after that he wouldn't let me near you to find out the truth. What I said at the trial, I was feeling angry and hurt, and I chose the words that I knew would hurt you worst. I have no excuse for that and I'm sorry."

Harry nodded in silent acceptance of the explanations. Now he had to consider what to do. The Weasleys had chosen to believe fake evidence and had also been manipulated by Dumbledore into thinking that way. Remus had also been subtly manipulated too, but Harry also had to get over what he'd said at Harry's trial. He sighed, and faced the trio who were still sitting on the couch.

"I can't say I'm overly pleased with any of you. To paraphrase Dumbledore, you chose to do what was easy over what was right. You threw away what you knew of me, and believed faked evidence. If you had talked to me you would have discovered the facts of the case far quicker."

Harry stopped, as it looked like Molly was close to breaking down in tears. Remus looked little better while Arthur seemed to be holding back his emotions through willpower alone. Softening his tone slightly, Harry continued, "However, sixteen years is long enough to consider what you could have done differently and I can sense that you're genuinely sorry for hurting me so I will say this. You have my forgiveness for what happened but you will have to earn my trust again. Oh, and, in the spirit of forgiveness, stop calling me Knight Potter. My name is Harry. That bit about my title was really only for Dumbledore although it speaks well of you that you used it until I gave you permission to do otherwise."

Remus looked up and said, "Do you mean it Harry?" Harry nodded and then pulled Remus to his feet and hugged him hard. "You're an idiot but sixteen years is too long to hold a grudge and I won't deprive you ofyour last link to my parents."

Releasing Remus he then hugged Molly and shook hands with Arthur. "Don't throw me away again, I don't think Ginny would ever forgive you if you did" he said with a small grin. Arthur shook his head.

"She wouldn't, it was only the underage magic laws that protected us from her Bat Bogey hexes during the summer between her sixth and seventh year at Hogwarts. You do know that she still loves you?"

Harry looked at him and replied evenly, "She has a funny way of showing it. Yes I do know, but I'm not going to rush things. I need to see if we're still compatible, I've changed, as has she and I refuse to hurt her by trying to build a relationship if the feelings aren't there."

"Wise move, just don't hide yourself behind barriers, let her in and give her a chance to show you how much she cares."

Harry nodded. "I'm going to, don't worry. I need to talk to Moony in private for a minute so why don't you go and acquaint yourself with my Padawan and my friends."

Remus looked oddly at Harry. "Moony Harry?" he asked. Harry grinned. "Yes, Moony. I need a Marauder name, actually two of them. The common room should be big enough."

"Big enough for what Harry?" Remus asked before gasping in shock as the Jedi Knight transformed into a massive griffin. The large animal took a walk round the room before changing back into Harry again.

"I'm almost afraid to ask but you said two names Harry?" Remus said once he'd got his mouth working again. Harry grinned and then replied, "Surely you haven't forgotten my exit from the Great Hall earlier Moony."

Remus thought for a few seconds and then remembered the falcon that Harry had transformed into. He smirked and then said, "A Marauder indeed Harry. Well, how about Farsight for the falcon and I'll need time to come up with a name for your griffin form. It's magnificent by the way."

"It is yes. Can I join you the next full moon?"

"That depends. Would you be bringing your apprentice along? I don't think Moony would appreciate being smacked on the nose again."

Harry laughed and then said, "I'm not sure, you might want to mention that to him and see what his reaction is."

Chuckling, the two Marauders walked out and down to the Great Hall, where the Order would once again try to hold their interrupted meeting. The Order members were hoping that this time things would go smoothly but with the two most powerful wizards in Britain being at odds with one another, the members privately thought that that hope was a vain one.

Author Note

Hello everyone, I'm back again. My uniform is finished and ready to go, which I'm very happy about so I can shift back to fanfic writing in earnest. I need a name for Harry's griffin form, as I'm having trouble with thinking one up. Suggestions would be much appreciated. Oh and for those that were asking about Jedi Wizard, I have the next chapter in my email box but Pwn Master Paladin is in charge of updating and I haven't talked to him recently about it. I can say that it is a very good chapter and once we do update the story it will have been worth the wait.

Happy reading and May the Force be with you

Padawan Lynne