Harry was back in the senate. Not as the Emperor but as an advisor to the Queen. Padme was under the makeup and Sabe and Rabe were her handmaidens for the day.
Two droids were also present as security, they were unarmed though due to the senate requirements.
The senate was currently arguing over the various vacant pods. All were once occupied by representatives of planets under the Trade Federation. As members of the Empire of Magic, they had been withdrawn.
"We must send a fleet to liberate these planets!" The Malastare Ambassador argued heatedly. "This tyrannical, self-proclaimed 'Emperor' must be brought down!"
Harry didn't really care what happened as everyone knew the Emperor was often seen in the company of Jedi. He was unsurprised when the pod he was in moved out to the centre.
"We recognise the representative of Naboo, Queen Amidala." Chancellor Valorum nodded to the young royal.
"Thank you Chancellor." She said in her modified deep tones. "We are curious as to why the Ambassador of Malastare believes the Emperor has conquered these planets. What evidence does he present that the people are in danger or that they desire the interference of the Republic?"
Valorum turned to Ambassador Aks Moe.
"The evidence is the empty seats! Viceroy Nute Gunray and Ambassador Lott Dod are close friends of mine! They have been hauled off by this so called 'Empire'."
"Those individuals were arrested and are pending trial for their crimes against the people of Naboo." The Queen answered calmly. "These trials will take place once my people have set Naboo to rights and are capable of holding a War Crimes Tribunal."
"That is not the place of a single planet! If there are war crimes then the Senate should hold the trials!" Moe said heatedly.
"That only applies to members of the Republic. According to yourself and the senate, there was no invasion of Naboo and the accused parties have withdrawn from the Republic. We fail to see how this could involve the senate."
Moe sneered at her. "So are you finally going to follow through with your bluff and withdraw from the Republic? We all know you are nothing but a puppet for this 'Emperor'. Does he have you sit at his feet and service him? Do you dance for him like a Twi'lek?"
"Enough!" Valorum roared angrily. "You are out of line, Ambassador and you will return to your place until you have apologised to the Queen."
Aks Moe didn't get a chance to respond as the pod went flying back to its dock.
Valorum took a calming breath. "I apologise, Queen Amidala. That should never have happened."
The Queen inclined her head, her expression like stone. "I believe there is nothing further to discuss on the matter of the Empire of Magic as the Ambassador is unable to provide proof or further his argument."
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that Ambassador Moe was partially correct in that Naboo is a member of the Republic. As such, it is not the place of a single member to hold a War Crimes Tribunal."
"The people of Naboo and the Empire of Magic consider this a private matter between two civilisations. The senate has denied the actions of the Trade Federation.
"What precisely are you suggesting? The Emperor has stated that he is willing to handle the situation internally to the Empire if need be." She responded calmly.
"If Naboo feels it has been wronged in this manner, it is only right that a hearing should be held before the senate as an impartial third-party."
"But the senate has already declared that the invasion never occurred. For what possible reason would the senate call a hearing? The War Crimes Tribunal has nothing to do with the Republic and is a private matter between Naboo and the Empire."
Valorum was clearly unhappy but couldn't unilaterally overturn the decision of the senate and declare that there was an invasion. "Perhaps you could extend an invitation to this 'Emperor' to meet with me? To discuss the matter further?"
Amidala looked concerned. "You are asking the Queen of Naboo to act as your messenger boy? To ask the leader of a multi-system realm to meet with… a bureaucrat?"
It was a low-blow and both Amidala and Valorum knew it. When Amidala had met privately with Valorum in the past few days about Naboo's possible withdrawal from the Republic, the Chancellor had demurely apologised for not being able to render aid to Naboo as he was: 'naught but a lowly bureaucrat, bound to the whims of others'.
The other senators clearly didn't like the way things were going and murmurs began to rise.
Amidala decided to put an end to the current session. "In light of recent events, the Emperor has offered Naboo a place in his empire. It will be a prime topic of debate in the coming elections on my planet.
"Of course, the people are aware of the decision of the Republic Senate and the aid that was rendered by them.
"They will of course weigh that against the actions of the Empire and the aid that the Emperor himself still oversees.
"We will inform the Emperor of your request to meet, I will ask for a contact to pass on. But we hope that the senate will not make a fool of itself by showing the same level of disrespect to the Emperor that it has shown to us… The Queen."
"Under no circumstances is the Emperor to ever set foot in the senate hearing room except as an invited observer." Padme told Harry sternly as the girls helped her out of her elaborate dress. Harry had already dealt with her makeup.
"Your Majesty!" Eirtae gasped. "You can't just order a fellow leader like that!"
Padme giggled, breaking the tense atmosphere from the senate. "I just meant that Harry shouldn't let himself be dragged in front of them. I wasn't making his decisions."
"I should hope not." The handmaiden muttered as she moved off with the Queen's headdress.
"I'll have C-3PO whip up a letter or something." Harry shrugged. "I would say that we go ahead with the trials, but if you want you can invite the senate to send an envoy to observe."
Padme nodded approvingly. "An olive branch of sorts."
"So what happens now? Are we going back to Naboo or visiting one of the other planets that helped out during the invasion?"
"We should probably head back to Naboo. We will need to address the government regarding our current options in respect to the Republic."
The following day Harry walked into the Jedi Temple with a rat in a cage.
"You did not 'conjure' this creature." Master Mundi noted as he approached the wizard with Windu and Yoda.
"How could you tell?" Harry asked.
"I can sense it in the Force, unlike the 'dogs' you made for the Queen and her handmaidens."
"Huh... can you tell anything else about it?"
"It positively reeks of the Dark Side." He said blandly.
That probably explained the rather tense look on Windu's face.
"Yeah, this is the master I was talking about. Darth Plagueis, he likes to call himself. Real name: Hego Damask the Second." Harry raised the cage to eye-level. "Where do you want him?"
"At the bottom of a volcano."
Three sets of eyes looked at the Head of the Jedi Order with concern mixed with amusement.
Windu remained defiant.
"What do you normally do with captured Sith?" Harry asked as the group of four headed to the holding cells.
Yoda chuckled darkly. "Captured? Sith never let themselves be captured. Die. Die or win. No compromise."
"That is not entirely true." Mundi interjected. "Those who have fallen from the light into darkness have been known to be redeemed."
"Master, do you intend to travel with Harry Potter, still?" Windu turned to Yoda.
"For a while." He admitted casually.
"Good. Someone needs to teach him to be cautious." Windu said with narrowed eyes. "He tried to sneak up on a Sith on his own. He could have been killed."
"Did sneak." Yoda corrected. "Not try."
Mace Windu scowled as his former master reiterated the lessons he had taught him when he was a Padawan. "That is not the same. Using the Force requires a state of mind. But even before we attempt it, we meditate and converse; Master to Padawan.
"Harry did not converse with us. You have stated many times that he is like a young child in this world. He has no understanding of our technology. He was confronting more than just an experienced Force Wielder, he had to overcome the technology that defended the Sith."
Yoda looked between Harry and Windu with a smile. "Overcome it he did."
"I planned this little… 'heist' with R2-D2 and Sirius." Harry shrugged. He wasn't too offended by Windu these days. He was still a whole lot better than Snape.
"I believe 'kidnapping' is a more accurate description." Mundi noted.
Harry departed Coruscant the following day with Padme and her entourage.
News was spreading like wildfire of the tragic demise of Hego Damask II thanks to the plans Palpatine already had in place. The Sith himself was confined in the bowels of the Jedi Temple. The Jedi were still trying to figure out what to do with their three Sith.
The Queen's ship had been completely upgraded. The only thing that hadn't changed was the shape and colour. The hyperdrive was now the best that money could buy, along with an identical backup. Concealed beneath the sleek hull were heavy lasers capable of putting a dent in a cruiser.
The sensor array was upgraded along with the communications to broadcast jamming signals similar to the Ghost.
Finally, there was the gift from the Emperor himself; fifty powered down droids and four droidekas in the cargo hold, ready to defend the Queen at a moment's notice.
When Padme had thanked him, Harry had just blushed and mumbled about not wanting to have to board enemy ships on his own again.
Harry was piloting The Ghost and familiarising himself with every inch of it. He had managed to scare the life out of Chewbacca when he popped out of a crawlspace beneath the floors.
Yoda had nearly had a heart attack.
R2-D2 and Sirius found it hilarious.
Chewbacca, Yoda and Sirius were all helping C-3PO to teach Harry both Shyriiwook and written Galactic Basic. He'd never be able to speak the language (just as Wookies couldn't speak Galactic Basic) but he would be able to understand it.
What Harry didn't realise was that Padme and the girls were quite upset.
They had thought Harry would be on their ship, they had to talk Padme down from asking the pilots to stop in the middle of deep space just to dock so they could join Harry.
The journey was just a few days and Harry learnt a lot. Ric Ollie had called over worriedly when The Ghost started spinning all over the place but Sirius just told him that Harry was getting a feel for the ship. The Royal Pilot had heard of his student's abilities on a speeder and the reaction of the Queen and her handmaidens… and decided not to say anything.
Harry also managed to learn more about where all the systems were. He could find life support, engines, navigation… if it was going to break he would need to find it to fix it.
They landed safely and timely at the Palace of Theed. Harry disembarked with Yoda and C-3PO but R2-D2, Sirius and Chewbacca stayed on board to do some work whilst they could access the hull.
"A beautiful planet, no?" Yoda said as he closed his eyes serenely and breathed in the fresh air.
"Yeah, if it hadn't been invaded recently I would have called it paradise." Harry nodded.
"Many planets, Sirius called that." Yoda mused. "Lived on ships though. Settled on Kashyyyk only when too frail."
"He probably didn't want to feel like he was being locked up." Harry said.
"Captured many times." Yoda told him as he began hobbling towards the Queen's nearby ship. "Apparated away every time. Always came back for me."
"It took him twelve years, but he came for me." Harry agreed.
"And follow him, you do. No hesitation!" Yoda smiled with pride.
"I think Master Windu would not think that to be a good thing." Harry smirked.
"Bah!" Yoda said as he briefly waved his stick ahead of him. "Good tactics you show. But loyalty, no? Much loyalty and love."
"I abandoned my friends." Harry frowned as he remembered that night at the Ministry. "They were fighting Death Eaters… did they survive?"
"Save everyone, you cannot." Yoda stopped and poked him in the shin.
"I can try." Harry said darkly as he turned away and headed towards the disembarking royal.
Yoda shook his head sadly and followed.
"Harry Potter, we were surprised you were not on board our ship." Padme asked. She was in her makeup and did not look pleased.
"I- erm… I thought I was supposed to travel on The Ghost. Like a backup." Harry said nervously.
"Hmm."
Harry had no idea what he had done wrong. He and R2 had flown his ship in formation behind the Queen's Cruiser. He had taken shifts with Chewbacca to monitor the sensors for any trouble.
So why was Padme mad at him. He was just glad that she had the makeup on… without it she wouldn't have to be so reserved in public.
He watched as Panaka led the Queen's entourage to the palace, a few of the handmaidens gave him sympathetic looks.
If only he knew why.
Despite Yoda's prodding, Harry had decided to stay on The Ghost and help Chewbacca and R2-D2. The Jedi Master took the young wizard into the cargo hold and began instructing him on using his sword and shield.
It was just before sunset that Yoda called an end to the day's lesson claiming he was old and tired.
Harry was sweating and panting… Yoda looked fresh as a daisy.
Harry was not impressed.
Just after sunset Yoda was sitting in the common area of The Ghost and tinkering with some parts for a practice droid used by younglings. He smiled at the young queen as she entered.
"Master Yoda, have you seen Harry?" Padme asked with a bow. She was dressed in casual civilian clothes, her only companion was her dog.
"Resting, he is. Practise hard, he does. Still, many years to match Sirius." Yoda carefully slid his project to the side of the table nearest the wall so it was out of the way. "Walking outside, did Harry say."
"Oh, I didn't see him."
Yoda slipped from the seat and patted the large black dog. "Find him, this one can."
It was only ten minutes later that a very worried Padme came rushing back onto the ship calling for help.
"Miss Padme! Whatever is wrong?" C-3PO asked worriedly as he came wobbling in.
"I can't find Harry. Paddy seems to think he has gone into the forest."
"From what I hear he is a fair hand at navigating a forest. Even at night." Came a chuckle from Sirius as R2-D2 rolled in with Chewbacca and Yoda.
"The Gungans live in the forest areas." Padme argued. "They know what Harry looks like."
R2 started beeping. He rolled over to a nearby screen and connected to it.
"You bugged my godson?" Sirius asked in amusement as the screen showed a dot labelled 'Harry' deep in the forest.
R2 gave a droidic shrug.
"Pride. Success. Victory." They turned to Yoda who was standing there with his eyes closed. "Sense Harry I cannot. Sense his kidnappers I can."
Within minutes Padme had an assault squad ready. The droids from The Ghost where powered up and ready to enter the forest.
Yoda had put an end to the militaristic build-up with a stern look.
And a giant glaring Wookie behind him.
He had insisted that he and Chewbacca were more than enough to retrieve their wayward wizard. An army led by a queen was not needed.
It was an irritable Padme and her handmaidens who sat in the throne room with R2-D2 and Sirius, waiting for word.
Padme would have been gobsmacked if she had been allowed to accompany the Jedi and Wookie duo.
It wasn't the way that Chewbacca leapt from the ground to a branch some thirty feet high.
It wasn't the way he practically ran without pause across the branches.
No. It was the tiny Yoda who was always some ten metres ahead and nearly flying through the treetops like a bird.
Yoda was bolstered by his powerful connection to the Force. It was what made him the most feared and respected Jedi to this very day. Something that only a very few, like Windu and Dooku, could claim to have witnessed.
The Gungans lived in the forest: Yes.
But more specifically, they lived in the lakes within the forest that connected to bodies of water around the planet.
Chewbacca was far from happy as his people were not big swimmers.
Being covered in shaggy fur an' all.
Still, he was a Wookie and he had a breather for such occasions on his utility bandolier.
His mood did not improve when they eventually reached the Gungan underwater city; Otah Gunga.
"Hmm… miss-judged, we did." Yoda mused.
"You said he was kidnapped." Chewbacca grumbled in his growling language.
Yoda chuckled. "Willing, he sits there? You think?"
Chewbacca took a longer look at his charge.
Harry was sitting at a long table, filled with food and surrounded by long-eared, snout-nosed Gungans. The Gungans were clearly trying to get him to drink as they toasted and consumed the food in a festive manner.
Harry looked very sullen. He was not a happy bunny.
"Are they fattening him up to sacrifice him?"
Yoda laughed, it drew the attention of the revellers.
Weapons were immediately drawn and pointed at the duo.
"Come in peace, we do." Yoda said calmly.
"Yousa trespassing." The exceptionally 'large' gungan on Harry's right growled.
"Kidnapped my student, you have." Yoda said unconcerned as he hobbled forward.
The gungan looked down at Harry. "Hesa speak true?"
Harry gave an irritated and exasperated sigh. "Yes! I told you people were going to want to know where I was! The Queen keeps getting upset with me for some reason.
"Bet she's bloody livid this time." He muttered to himself.
The gungan just waved a hand dismissively. "Hoomans stuffy. Theysa all with big rules. Theysa need to relaxa."
"Requested a meeting you could have." Yoda admonished lightly as he levered himself onto one of the benches around the table.
Chewbacca stood back, he made a discreet call on his comm unit.
"Weesa did! Theysa saying Harry make big boomba accident. Weesa wanting to speakas with sky-boy. Hesa doings beeeg favours to gungans when he keels Jar-Jar.
"Gungans make beeg thanks." The gungan waved a hand to indicate the feast.
"Thank him? For killing a gungan?" Yoda frowned.
The gungan nodded. "Jar-Jar Binks, foolish. Clumsy. Binks sentenced to nocombakie. Wesa sees heem… wesa keels heem."
"Yoda, Chewbacca, meet 'The Boss'." Harry waved a tired hand to his neighbour. "From what I can understand, the guy I landed on and killed was a careless and clumsy thief that crashed a vehicle and nearly killed people."
"Thas wha mesa says!"
Chewbacca was nearly carrying Harry as they left the gungan city of Otah Gunga in the wee hours of the morning. Once Yoda had grasped the situation he simply raised a glass and toasted Harry.
The gungans cheered.
The wookie laughed.
The human glared.
Harry barely noticed the palace guards around The Ghost. He absently took his glasses off as he ascended the ramp and handed them to C-3PO who placed them in R2's compartment. He made his way to his cabin by touch and feel before slumping into the bed and passing out.
Harry woke up to screaming and a sore arm and hip.
He was immediately on his feet with wand in hand, pointed at the direction of the screaming. "Who's there?" He demanded.
Heavy footsteps sounded before the door to his cabin was wrenched open and Chewbacca stormed in, bowcaster in hand.
"Chewie? What's going on? Who is it?"
The wookie gave a confused noise before he clearly started chuckling and left the room.
"God dammit! Who is it?" Harry demanded as he turned back to the noise maker.
"It's me!" Came the hissed and annoyed voice. "Padme."
"What? Am I in the wrong room? R2 brought me here last night. I am so sorry! I will just leave and go to my room." He spoke quickly and fearfully as he turned and tried to find the door.
"Wait!"
Harry froze.
"This is your room." Padme said with a wince. "I was waiting for Master Yoda to return with you and I fell asleep in your cabin."
Harry's hand dropped to his side and he turned to Padme… who was basically a large blur. "That really hurt." He grumbled as he rubbed his hip.
"I am so sorry." She said as she stood from the waist high bunk and guided Harry to sit on it. "Wait here and I'll get your glasses. I assume R2-D2 has them?"
"I think so. I know C-3PO took them when we got back."
"We really need to see to getting your eyes fixed." She sighed as she left.
C-3PO soon entered the cabin with Harry's glasses, also expressing concern over getting his master's eyes fixed.
Harry entered the common area to see a red faced and embarrassed Padme with a grinning Sabe and Yane.
He had a very intense desire to do an about-face and go back to bed.
"Harry, make sure you are at dinner this evening." Yane said primly as she stood, smirk still firmly planted. "It is good practice for when you have to be the Emperor."
With that, Sabe dragged Padme to her feet and the trio left.
That was when he heard the scraping noise of claws on metal and noticed the dogs hiding under the table.
Harry managed to spend a few weeks building a relatively simple routine on Naboo. He woke up and did some exercises under Yoda's watchful eye. He then sparred with the Jedi Master using his sword and shield. He was improving to the point that he could block any swing from Yoda's lightsabre.
After sparring practice he would learn new spells from Sirius for an hour or so. Usually this was done by Sirius telling stories of how he had used them in the past.
Speaking of Sirius, Yoda had finished his project with the practice droid and Sirius was freely floating around on top of it. It took less than a day for Harry to ask the Jedi if he could make a remote that could override it when he became annoying.
During lunch, Harry would pay special attention to the conversations between his godfather, Yoda and Chewbacca. He was a long way from being able to hold a conversation with the wookie, but he could pick up a few words.
After lunch, Yoda would take Harry into the forest and have him practice certain spells. Sometimes it was his Patronus, other times it was simple levitation.
Today was summoning.
"That's a big tree." Harry commented as he dubiously regarded the large tree that could put an American Redwood to shame. It wasn't anything like the trees on Kashyyyk, but it was still big.
"Big it is." Yoda nodded. "Tree it is more." He turned to look at Harry with a curious look. It was the one that came before he posed a hypothetical or philosophical question. "Size matters? Why? Matters not to Jedi. Force will work. We will ask magic."
"You think my magic is the same?" Harry asked. "You think that my magic is… 'separate' from me and I just 'request' things of it?"
Yoda shook his head. "Magic is yours. Not entity, not The Force. But magic, reality manipulation, hmm?" He posited. "Military cap: Inanimate, no life. Manipulate it you did, no? Made it alive. Made it bigger!"
"Reality manipulation?" Harry frowned.
Yoda lifted his hand and a nearby rock shot into his palm. "A rock? Yes?"
Harry just nodded.
"To Jedi Council: A rock.
"To Droid Army: A rock.
"Atoms, molecules… all say: rock."
"Yeah, rock." Harry agreed a little impatiently, but still listening and slightly amused.
"Me, Sirius, you… not rock. Potential.
"Here, make gold." Yoda instructed as he placed the rock on the floor.
Harry pointed his wand and cast the transfiguration spell with a whisper. Nothing happened.
"No!" Yoda stomped is stick on the ground. "No spell. Use same magic for Padfoots."
Harry frowned and shook himself. He then knelt down and pointed his wand at the rock and focused.
A few seconds later and the rock was a shiny gold.
"That was hard." Harry breathed heavily.
"Why? Padfoot is more complicated. Blood, bone, brain… life."
"I don't know. It just was." Harry shrugged.
Yoda huffed. "Hard because you doubt yourself. Dragons, phoenixes, broomsticks, transfiguration… all of this Sirius told me, he did. Science, your magic knows not. Genetics, chemistry, physics. Your magic does not know how dogs work. Many you have made!
"Hard because you believe it should be."
"Pup, Yoda, sorry to interrupt but you've got a message coming in from Master Dooku." Sirius' voice came over the communicator.