Harry appeared on the landing pad of the Naboo Embassy with a loud bang and enough sand to make a children's play area. He was surrounded by droid soldiers, their weapons pointed at him… for the full second it took them to identify him.
"Mister Potter, we will alert your companions that you have arrived. They are currently en route to Coruscant with your personal ship and droids." The droid in command stepped forward.
The droids were aware that Harry was not to be referred to as the Emperor unless he was wearing his mask or he was publicly de-masked.
"I am beginning to see that perhaps you are using magic."
Harry turned and saw Obi-Wan standing there. "Hey, good to see you. Wait… what happened to your hair? Did that little brat cut off your braid?" Harry demanded.
"Now I understand why Master Qui-Gon suggested I come alone to greet you." The older man chuckled. "I have passed my trials. I am now a Jedi Knight so I am expected to cut off my Padawan braid."
"Oh… congratulations." Harry said sincerely. "We should make sure the Queen and the handmaidens know."
"It isn't the sort of thing that is announced at the senate." Obi-Wan chuckled.
"They like you." Harry told him with a hint of exasperation. "They were worried about Qui-Gon taking Anakin as his Padawan because it would leave you alone."
"Oh." Obi-Wan was completely unsure of how to handle that news. "But I was due to take my trials."
"Obi, you were part of the team that saved them from the Neimoidians and liberated their planet. They are never going to forget you."
"I wish you wouldn't call me that." Obi-Wan scowled half-heartedly.
"Fine." Harry grumbled. "It's not like it was an insult."
Obi-Wan put a hand on the younger man's shoulder and gave him a smile to show he wasn't exactly angry. "Come on, Master Qui-Gon thought you might want an update on what we have learnt from the Sith you captured."
"Anything useful?" Harry asked as he fell into step with the Jedi Knight as he moved off the landing pad.
"Not from the Sith themselves." Obi-Wan shook his head. "They are remaining quiet and we don't expect for them to talk. But since you revealed them as Sith, we have started tracking their movements and associations. Based on their ages, Palpatine's master could still be alive and Maul could have an apprentice somewhere."
A shuttle touched down and Obi-Wan indicated for Harry to follow.
Once they were settled on board, Obi-Wan continued. "We are trying to do our best to hide the fact that Palpatine and Maul have been apprehended and were Sith. So far we appear to have been successful."
"Why keep it quiet?" Harry asked curiously.
"If there is a master and apprentice out there then we don't want them destroying any evidence that will lead us to them."
"So… being a Jedi is also like being a detective?"
"At times." He allowed. "But there are members of the Order known as Jedi Investigators. They do tend to focus on crime itself as opposed to the average Jedi who goes out into the galaxy to render aid where needed."
"So why are you still on this planet? Shouldn't you be out there?"
"I am awaiting the assignment of my first Padawan." Obi-Wan smiled. "Later today actually."
"Erm… great. Hope he's better than the brat."
"You should give him a chance, Harry." Obi-Wan chastised. "He is young and-"
"A terrible person." Harry shuddered. "Didn't Qui-Gon tell you about how we found him?"
"He told me the boy was a slave who managed to use his connection to the Force to get away with stealing. Yes." He said firmly. "But if all he experiences from others is hate and distrust, then that will be what he aspires to. We need teach him, not judge him."
Harry was now the grumpy one. "I guess. Just remember that I know people like him. Also, I grew up in a worse situation than him… I'd like to think that I'm not filled with hate."
"No, you are not." Obi-Wan said with certainty. "But you do not trust easily. You need to be careful as that could lead to paranoia, and that could lead to the dark side."
They travelled the remainder of the way to the Jedi Temple in silence. Slightly uncomfortable, but by no means hostile.
They arrived and Obi-Wan patted Harry on the shoulder, reassuringly. The pair disembarked and were met by several older Jedi.
"Harry, you know Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Anakin Skywalker. This is Jedi Master Mace Windu, Head of the Order and Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi, a member of the Jedi High Council.
"Masters, this is Harry Potter, kin of Jedi Master Yoda's late partner." He bowed respectfully to the senior Jedi.
Harry grimaced as he recognised the Jedi who had argued with him as the Emperor. He was so glad he had a disguise.
"You are the Emperor!" Mundi said with wide eyes.
Harry just turned to Obi-Wan with a defeated look.
Obi-Wan was horrified and had no idea what to say.
"Hmm, yes, I understand now." Mundi nodded. "You were concealing your identity to protect your privacy. I apologise." Mundi bowed. "A curse of my people is that we have two brains. Whilst a blessing at times, as you have seen today, the deductions can astound even me."
"Master Mundi will often be working on a problem, never realising that his second brain has been working on an alternative to the same problem." Qui-Gon chuckled.
"Regrettably true." The cone headed Jedi sighed. "A blessing and a curse.
"Regardless, you have my word that I will not reveal your secret without just cause."
"Jedi do not approve of secrets." Master Windu scowled.
This earned him a bemused look from Qui-Gon, worried from Obi-Wan and shocked from Mundi. Anakin just looked lost.
Harry just nodded slowly. "Good… good. So you have prepared an announcement for the public regarding the discovery and capture of two Sith?"
Qui-Gon was trying not to laugh. Obi-Wan was looking like he really wanted to be elsewhere. Mundi actually looked pleased, or vindicated. Anakin still looked lost.
Mace Windu looked like he had swallowed something he really shouldn't have. "The interrogation rooms are this way." He said and turned towards the temple.
"I'm going to need your word that you won't reveal my secret." Harry said firmly, not moving from his spot.
"We can discuss it later." Windu said, still walking.
Harry whipped out his wand and Windu fell to the ground like a stiff board. Harry's quick reflexes managed to slip by the three trained Jedi.
"You killed him!"
Qui-Gon managed to clamp two hands on Anakin's shoulders before he could attack Harry.
"Padawan!" Mundi said slightly harshly. "Use what you have been taught. Reach out with your senses. Can you not feel that Master Windu is perfectly fine?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "Anakin, you must learn to think before you act. Assess the situation before you take action.
"Even if Master Windu was dead, you have attempted to attack a man who successfully took out the leader of our Order. What could you have possibly hoped to achieve by attacking him?"
"A disappointing display." Mundi said gravely. "Regrettably, it is not so disappointing as Master Windu's display."
"Can you help me stand him up?" Harry asked the elderly looking alien.
Mundi just nodded and moved to help Harry. "He is… frozen?" He asked as he felt the human Jedi's stiffness.
"Petrified… sort of. He can see and hear us, you can see his eyes moving. Other than breathing he can't do anything but observe."
"But it is not permanent?"
Harry actually smiled at that. "Anakin, come closer." He called over. "You heard what Master Mundi just asked?"
"Yeah… so?" The boy said sullenly.
"Master Mundi has just shown you how a good person… a real Jedi, should act. He didn't accuse me of permanently making Master Windu this way. Instead he asked for information.
"That's what Qui-Gon was trying to tell you. Ask questions. Figure out the answers. Then decide on the course of action."
Obi-wan allowed himself a small smile of relief. It seemed that Harry had taken their conversation to heart.
"But you attacked him!"
"But why did I attack him?" Harry pressed.
"Harry! Could I have a moment?" Obi-Wan said quickly.
A quick look to Master Mundi to ensure Windu wouldn't be toppling over and Harry stepped away with the newly elevated knight.
They returned shortly. Harry looked resigned and Obi-Wan, concerned.
"Ok, so, Anakin; why did I attack Master Windu?" Harry continued.
"Because he turned his back on you?" Anakin clearly wasn't sure. The others wondered if he actually understood the situation. He was barely ten years old after all.
Harry glanced at Obi-Wan. "In for a penny." He muttered. "Anakin, you remember how Padme is actually the Queen of Naboo?" The boy nodded. "She hides as a handmaiden to protect herself." Another nod. "Do you think it would be alright to go out and tell everyone that Padme is really the Queen?"
"No way!"
Harry allowed himself a small smile. He doubted Anakin would ever hurt Padme. "I am the Emperor of Magic. I don't have handmaidens and decoys. I use a mask to protect my identity. Master Windu wanted to tell everybody that I am the Emperor. He would probably try and tell everyone that Padme is the Queen."
Harry tried really hard not to smile as he watched the young Padawan try to come to terms with the fact that he couldn't keep Padme's secret and not keep Harry's.
"But he's a Jedi." It was spoken quietly, with confusion and mostly to himself.
"Jedi are mortals, Padawan Skywalker." Mundi spoke up. "I am often chided by my peers for my harsh manner. Your own Master is something of a rebel and it is the only reason he is not on the Council.
"Of course there is now also the fact that he has taken on another Padawan." He mused to himself.
"Perhaps we should contact Master Yoda." Obi-Wan suggested. "He holds the most respect and the position of Grand Master. He would be able to council us better."
"Master Jedi Yoda has boarded the Ghost with Harry Potter's droids and belongings. The Queen and her entourage have also boarded along with the Wookie, Chewbacca." The lead droid announced from the shuttle. "They should arrive after sunset."
Harry turned to Windu and sent two spells at him. Windu stumbled as he regained control of his body. He immediately turned to Mundi and spoke harshly.
Tried to speak.
"Yeah, until Yoda arrives I've silenced you." Harry said blandly. "Until then I suggest we go find a room to wait in."
"I would agree." Mundi said quickly at the angry look. "You should use the time to meditate as your actions have not been very becoming of a Jedi Master."
"Anakin and I will keep Master Windu company." Qui-Gon offered. "We can use the time to instruct my Padawan on meditation techniques. This should allow you to fully brief Harry on the two Sith."
"One looks like a stuck up snob, the other like he desperately wanted to be a Satanist." Harry said dryly as he observed the two Sith, Palpatine and Maul, in separate cells.
"I am afraid I don't understand the reference." Mundi frowned.
"Palpatine looks like he should be entitled to whatever he wants and Maul looks like just wants to hurt everyone." Harry clarified.
"An apt description of a Sith, indeed."
"There might be a chance I could learn stuff from them that you can't." Harry said as shuffled uncomfortably.
"We cannot condone torture of any kind." Mundi said firmly. He then paused and turned to face Harry. "But if Qui-Gon Jinn's report is accurate, you were able to use persuasion of a different kind."
"I did?"
"He says you managed to convince a Troydarian on Tatooine to free Skywalker and his mother."
Harry chuckled. "Watto is still a grumpy old sod. He was easy to deal with. I just had to pay him. I would need to know what those two want before I could start to do the same thing." He nodded to the Sith. "I was actually thinking of something like mind reading."
"You are a fully functioning telepath?" Mundi asked in amazement.
"No, no!" Harry said quickly. "My people could learn a skill where they could search through a person's memories by looking in their eyes. I've never learnt it but I have experienced it. If Sirius could help I might be able to try it on them."
"I confess a degree of relief hearing you are not a telepath." Mundi breathed. Obi-Wan was clearly recovering from his own little panic attack. "It would have to be discussed with the Council as I am unsure as to the ethical ramifications."
"We do, in essence, alter people's minds with the Force, Master Mundi." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"What we do, young Knight, is use the Force to augment people's perceptions of us." He lectured. "We apply a filter, if you will, that makes them see us in a different manner. Where they might be hostile, we can make them think we are nothing. A waste of their precious time.
"Where they are recalcitrant to aid us, they see us as the solution to the problem.
"At all times the person's mind is their own and, ultimately, unaffected by our passing."
Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully.
"It would require more discussion and debate, but if what Harry Potter has said stands true, then he too would simply be observing a person's thoughts and not altering them.
"But that is still a great responsibility. I felt your worry at the revelation that Harry Potter could read minds."
"Do you think you could explain the Force some more for me?" Harry asked as he tried to move the topic away from legilimency and the painful memories. "I've seen it used but haven't actually been able to feel it myself. Qui-Gon and Yoda both say that Sirius and myself can't be sensed in the Force."
"Might I attempt something?" Mundi asked curiously.
Harry nodded.
Mundi raised his hand and concentrated. Eventually he lowered his hand. "You felt nothing?"
Harry shook his head, he wasn't entirely sure what he was supposed to feel.
"You have likely been told that the Force is everywhere. In everything. You do not seem to exist. You are not a void in the Force that we could use to track you. The Force has no effect on you… but you have no effect on the Force."
"I don't understand."
"The Force is affected by everything from dust particles to galactic movements." He summoned a datapad from a nearby table and held it in the air between them, slowly rotating. "This object can be felt in the Force. The Force surrounds it, moves through it and is even affected by it.
"You cannot be felt in the Force. The Force does not surround you but it exists in the area you occupy. But it has no knowledge or sense of you. It is unaffected and unaware of you."
Obi-Wan stepped forward. "Imagine a glass of water. If you were to drop a large stone in the glass, the water level would rise. The glass is the universe, the water is the Force, you are the stone. But when you are dropped in, the water is unaffected."
Harry nodded. "I think I get it, but I also think that I won't really get it because I am not a Jedi and can't feel the Force in any way."
"I believe Master Yoda may be able to explain better." Obi-Wan assured him. "He did spend many years with your godfather."
It was fairly late in the evening when The Ghost touched down at the Jedi Temple. He was surprised to see Chewbacca with them.
"Hi." Harry waved weakly.
The giant humanoid clearly chuckled and patted him heavily on the shoulder.
"Master Chewbacca has stated that he intends to take on the role that his ancestor fulfilled. Keeping wizards out of trouble." C-3PO explained.
"Good friend, Garaka." Yoda said as he hobbled out. "Thank you young Obi-Wan." He told the nearby Jedi who had brought out a large circular device. It looked like a cushioned nest. Obi-Wan placed it on the floor and Yoda climbed in before it began to float.
"You're getting lazy in your old age." Sirius mocked.
"Says the one being carried around one hundred percent of the time." Harry smirked.
"Hey, you build me a floating thingy and I'll use that instead." Sirius said indignantly.
"How is that any better?" Harry asked with exasperation.
Sirius just shrugged. "I'd be moving on my own power."
"Come, my young Padawan, we must see." Yoda said firmly, waving his stick towards the doors to the temple.
It was a large group that arrived at Qui-Gon's private chambers. He smiled at them as he let them in where they saw Anakin and Windu sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed.
"Welcome back, Master Yoda. I wasn't expecting so many." He said with bemusement at the Queen and her handmaidens. His eyes never strayed to the incognito Padme and stayed on Sabe who was dressed as the Queen.
"The safety and security of a close personal friend and ally has been called into question. I believe we should be grateful that the entire Trade Federation hasn't come, along with Wookie High Chief." The Queen said archly.
Qui-Gon looked to Yoda. "The Wookies?"
"Trust the Wookies, Harry does. Great faith in me he placed." Yoda said solemnly. He knew full well that it was only his opinion that had meant Harry had revealed the truth to the 'Giant Teddy Bears'.
"Master Qui-Gon, shouldn't we be quiet?" Eirtae asked nervously as she indicated the meditating duo.
"No, this is a good test for Anakin. Meditating is not about finding peace in peaceful situations. It is about finding calm when the galaxy churns chaos all around you."
Yoda just huffed. "Sleeping does not count."
There was a chuckle from Obi-Wan.
"It is only the second successful attempt." Qui-Gon told the Grand Master with faux seriousness. "But it is late. I will put him to bed so we may continue."
Despite the dislike for the boy, the Queen and her handmaidens couldn't help the fond smiles for Qui-Gon as he gently lifted Anakin and took him to the next room.
Yoda settled his floating nest to the floor in front of Windu. "Arguments you have? Hmm?" He said to the seemingly meditating Jedi. "Feel you must choose whose secrets to keep?"
Windu calmly opened his eyes and glared at Harry.
There were a few uncomfortable seconds as everyone looked between Harry and Windu. Harry had no idea what he was supposed to say.
"Read minds, can wizards. If they are trained. Harry is not." Yoda tapped the end of his stick on the floor. "Speak."
Windu looked at Yoda. "I cannot speak until he- I can speak?" He said, surprised at the sound of his own voice.
"Yeah, I cancelled the spell a few hours ago after I got back from talking with Master Mundi." Harry shrugged.
"I felt nothing." Windu scowled to himself.
"And you never will." Sirius said seriously. "Harry doesn't technically exist in the eyes of this galaxy. Physically he can touch things, but the Force, it is a living essence that is native to this galaxy and for some reason it can't see us. I don't know if this applies to anyone from our galaxy or just wizards, but that is how things are.
"Now, are you going to keep your mouth shut about my godson's secret or should I instruct him on how to wipe it from your memory?" Sirius growled.
"Keep it he will." Yoda said firmly. "Realise his pride and its place."
There was something about the way Mace Windu held himself that made him seem slightly arrogant. Not like Malfoy, it was more that he was in charge and that should be enough to be listened to. Harry had seen that look on some of his professors.
"Revealing another's secrets is not my place." Windu said quietly. "I will not speak of it until he allows it to be released."
"Settled it is." Yoda said with energy. "All is well. Sleep we should and decide our course tomorrow."
Everyone started to walk out, except Harry who nodded to Windu. "Thank you sir."
Windu nodded back and left.
Harry and the others headed back to the ship to spend the night instead of flying back to the embassy. Chewbacca had taken one of the two spare cabins and Yoda stayed at the Temple.
The following morning they were back staring at the two Sith.
"Legillimancy isn't really something you learn." Sirius frowned as he hovered above R2 outside the interrogation rooms. "Aside from the incantation, of course. You have to learn by doing. Usually you work with an Occlumens as they can guide you through their memories. Jedi are the closest we have."
"I must agree with Master Mundi." Mace Windu spoke up. "The ethical aspects of this 'mind-reading', are… precariously close to dark. The temptation to use them for evil-"
"Same temptation we face, no?" Yoda mused from his floating nest. "Use our powers for good we do. We try. Temptation is there."
Windu sighed. "Still, this is a dark path before us. We must take care that we walk it carefully and keep our eyes on the light."
"Agreed, we are."
"Harry will need practice before he tries it on them." Sirius warned. "He will also need a good lecture on what a Sith is capable of. I don't want him going into their minds unprepared for the horrors he will see."
"I saw my parents murdered and Voldemort reborn. Can it get much worse?" Harry asked darkly.
"Infinite is the darkness." Yoda warned. "Persistent. The light holds it at bay, but the darkness is always waiting."
It was Obi-Wan that offered to be Harry's test subject. He reasoned that as he had only just ascended to the rank of knight, he had very little in the way of sensitive information. He also stated that as he was now a knight, he was considered a full adult and capable of deciding his own mind.
Sirius monitored them carefully along with Yoda. They also taught Harry to meditate so his control would improve.
Harry was also introduced to Obi-Wan's new Padawan, Barriss Offee. She was a Mirialan with yellow skin and black hair. She was very young at seven years. She was shy and tried to hide behind Obi-Wan when she thought she could get away with it.
According to Obi-Wan, she was incredibly intelligent. She preferred to read and study instead of practicing with her lightsabre or other physical activities.
She was soft spoken and, like most of the females Harry had met, she avoided Anakin as much as possible.
Anakin was often visibly jealous of the skill Barriss showed. She could meditate for hours, sense people in the Force and already had a firm control on manipulating the physical world through the Force. Her only failing seemed to be her lack of enthusiasm for lightsabre training.
Qui-Gon often had to take his new Padawan aside and talk him through his jealousy. Harry had been there for one such time.
"She's been doing this all her life, right?" He posited to Qui-Gon.
"Since she could walk." The Jedi Master confirmed.
"Right, so you just started. Stop pouting because you can't do what she has spent years learning to do and instead, work hard to reach her level. Do what she did in years in far less time."
Harry noticed that Qui-Gon didn't exactly agree, but he didn't say anything either. "Listen to what Qui-Gon tells you. Listen when Obi-Wan teaches Barriss.
"Then stop trying so hard."
"If I don't try I won't get anything!" Anakin argued.
"Qui-Gon said you have a lot of potential as a Jedi. More than even Yoda." Harry was careful not to say the boy had the potential to be more powerful, he didn't want the kid having that compounding his ego.
"So why can't I get it!?" Anakin demanded heatedly as his failure fuelled his frustration.
"Because you keep forcing it!"
Everyone turned to a glaring little Barriss at the door. She had left minutes earlier with Obi-Wan.
She blushed as she became the focus of attention.
"Padawan, please explain further." Qui-Gon encouraged.
The young girl darted up behind Harry, half hiding behind him. Harry was often one of her 'hiding posts' as he called them. He gently put a hand on her back and eased her forward.
"Come on Barriss, you are very smart. How do you do things differently to Anakin?" He encouraged.
"He- He doesn't make friends with the Force properly." She said hesitantly. "He forces it to be his friend and it doesn't like that. You have to wait for the Force to want to be your friend. Like playing with wild butterflies." She finished with a confident nod.
"Butterflies?" Harry's eyebrow rose. "You've seen butterflies?"
She nodded and a wistful look came over her.
Harry pulled his wand and conjured a small flock of butterflies. "Like these?"
The sight of the multi-coloured, large winged insects grabbed the girl's attention and a look of wonder bloomed on her young face. She tentatively reached out to touch one and it flitted away.
She frowned. "I can't feel them."
Harry held his arm out in front of him, two butterflies soon landed and he knelt down so Barriss could see them better.
"No… with the Force. I can't sense them." She frowned.
"It can be quite distressing for those of us raised in the use of the Force." Qui-Gon said softly as he stood there with a butterfly in the palm of his open hand. "Not being able to sense you or your magic is… like a blind spot." He gave a pointed look to Harry and the wizard dispelled the insects.
"Padawan Offee has, perhaps, given me some insight into Anakin's troubles with his lessons. I will discuss them with my Padawan and we will attempt to address them."
Harry took the implied request for privacy and guided Barriss out.
"What's the policy on arresting someone based on an accusation with no proof?"
Yoda chuckled at the young wizard as he exited the interrogation room. "Kidnapping, we call it."
Harry scowled. "I know the names of Palpatine's master and apprentice."
"He has another apprentice?" Mace Windu asked in surprise. "But there are always two."
"Palpatine doesn't believe in that rule. He was also preparing to kill his master. The Naboo resolution put that plan on hold… that and the fact we have him locked up."
"Are you intending to withhold this information?" Master Mundi asked cautiously.
Harry scratched the back of his head. "I don't know. I could give you the information, but… are you going to deal with these monsters immediately or are you going to just sit on it?"
"It would depend on the possible repercussions removing them from the public would cause." Master Windu allowed.
"Palpatine had plans in place to cover the death of his master."
"That would simplify things." Master Mundi nodded.
"And this second apprentice?" Windu pressed.
Harry frowned thoughtfully. "I'll tell someone. I'm not sure who, yet. They aren't really an apprentice, not yet. I'll try and sort that out."
"Trust you, we will." Yoda said slowly. "But trust you must, another. Burdens should be shared."
Technically, Harry told three people. But one was dead, one artificial and the other couldn't exactly speak Galactic Basic. But Harry entrusted Sirius, R2-D2 and Chewbacca with everything he learned; just in case something happened to him.
This led Harry to the senate building, standing behind an old man who was gazing out across the planet-spanning city from the balcony.
"Master Dooku."
The older man jumped in shock, his lightsabre flying to his hand. He stood there, staring at Harry, calculatingly. "Are you an illusion? A hallucination?"
"I'm annoying to every Force-sensitive in the galaxy." Harry smirked lightly. "I don't seem to register in the Force. Your old Master can explain more, he knew my godfather and he was the same as me."
Dooku powered down and holstered his weapon with scowl. "The Jedi Council had an operative with your abilities and-"
"I'm not a Jedi and I don't work for the Jedi." Harry interrupted quickly. "If I work for anyone, it would Queen Amidala of Naboo. Really I'm just tagging along with her until I find my feet in this galaxy."
"You know who I am and clearly sought me out. What could the Queen of Naboo want with an old Jedi?" Dooku asked cautiously.
"Nothing. I'm here on my own." Harry shrugged as he moved up to stand next to Dooku by the balcony railings. "I recently ran into your former padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, and he brought me to the Jedi because I was unique… you know, because you can't sense me."
"And yet here you are. Having sought me out." He pressed.
"Shortly after I met Qui-Gon, a Jedi, I met a Sith, Darth Maul."
"The Sith are back?!" Dooku hissed.
"For now." Harry nodded. "Maul had a master, Darth Sidious. Also known as Siv Palpatine."
Harry heard the sharp intake of breath. But he stayed where he was, watching the city breathe.
"I'm the only one who knows about your talks with him." Harry said softly.
"Blackmail?" Dooku asked calmly as he joined Harry, leaning on the railing.
"Intervention."
"I do not seek the Dark Side."
"I have the ability to look into the minds of others. From what I saw, the Dark Side seeks you." Harry shook his head tiredly. "Palpatine always listened to what you said, his only action was to pose questions that would gradually draw you to him.
"I know someone like that. Well, knew. They were a bit more heavy handed though. They told me: 'There is no good or evil, only power and those too weak to use it'. It was something like that."
"And you proved this individual wrong?" Dooku asked conversationally. The tension was clear between them. Harry knew just how close the Jedi Master had come to being seduced by the Dark Side.
"I have yet to hear someone say anything like that but still work for the benefit of everyone, like you Jedi."
Dooku scowled.
"I know you aren't fond of them anymore." Harry noted. "And maybe you should leave them. But I don't think you should abandon your entire way of life and go in the opposite direction."
"What good have the Jedi really done in these past years?" Dooku demanded as he turned away and started to pace. "We lost our brothers and sisters in pointless and ill-advised endeavours.
"And what is worse? They refuse to investigate! So many Jedi died under my command when we thought we were helping but were, in fact, aiding a monster!
"My own former Padawan, I told the Council she was not suitable for the Order and yet they sent her on a doomed mission. Now she is 'presumed dead'. Force forbid they should actually send a group to be sure!"
There was a few moments silence as Dooku paced.
"That seems like a good reason to leave the Order."
Dooku stopped and looked at the young, unassuming human. "I don't understand. Those were my reasons for considering it in the first place."
"Yeah, but the problem is you were heading straight into being a Sith. Not the best of goals. Instead, leave the Order with the intent to do what the Order refused to do. First, confirm the condition of your Padawan, then investigate all the other things that you didn't like."
"I would be working without the authority of the Jedi." Dooku mused.
"I've seen the 'authority' of a Jedi." Harry half-giggled. "It involves either a lightsabre or a mind-manipulation."
Dooku allowed himself a look of bemusement.