Harry had stormed out of that meeting. His mind was fighting the memories and faces of people like Malfoy, MacNair… Dolohov.

If they had been sentenced to death or killed in battle then how many people wouldn't have died when Voldemort returned? Hermione wouldn't have been hit by that curse.

Did she even survive the battle at the Ministry?

"Your Majesty."

Harry jumped, he hadn't heard Chewbacca approach him.

Harry looked around and checked his armours sensors. "It's safe Chewie. There's no one else around."

He made to remove his helmet but was stopped by Chewbacca's large paw. "Stick to protocol, Sir. Let's head to your ship."

Harry sighed, but he started heading for the palace hangers where a droid frigate was docked. It was the Emperor's personal ship, the one Harry was to use when travelling as the Emperor.

They quickly reached the Hanger. Chewbacca broke off for The Ghost knowing that Harry would apparate across.

It was thirty minutes later that a tired Harry Potter exited his cabin on The Ghost.

"Pup, Chewie says you seemed upset." Sirius asked with concern as he floated over the table in the common area. Chewie was seated at the table.

"How could you tell?" Harry asked curiously.

"Wookies have a good sense of smell." Chewbacca tapped his nose. "Our people are working with your droids to develop better methods of masking your scent."

"I'll talk to Arden about charming the armour." Harry frowned.

"Come on, Pup. Tell us what's bothering you."

Harry gave them a brief overview of the meeting he had come from.

"The nerve of that stuck up bitch!" Sirius snarled as he started floating towards the door. "Eeep!"

He was snatched out of the air by Chewbacca. "We don't have a connection to The Emperor, Sirius." Chewbacca reminded him. "We know him, but not enough for him to ask us for advice or for us to butt into his business."

"Well… tell Padme that the Emperor has no interest in meeting with that Senator again." Sirius grumbled.

"Master Harry, I do wish you would take the time to discuss your meetings with me once they are finished." C-3PO complained as he entered. He had just had to walk across the hanger.

"Sorry 3PO, I just needed out of that mess." Harry said sincerely as he stood to help the droid sit at the table.

"I can understand that, Master Harry. The Senator was quite out of line."

"It probably didn't help you were wearing your mask." Sirius offered. "It makes it hard for people to read your emotions."

"Maybe I don't want them reading me." Harry huffed.

"Master Harry, even I need to see your face to get a true understanding of what you are trying to convey. I can only do so much by reading your body language."

"Assign a droid to deal with political stuff." Chewie suggested. "The less the Emperor is seen, the more mysterious he seems."

"That will have to be a decision for R2-D2 and Master Harry to make." 3PO responded. "I know that R2 is not yet prepared to give the droid army… 'self-control', if you will."

"One day I am going to speak to the entire galaxy and tell them that the ruler of the most powerful organisation in the galaxy… is a three-foot astro-mech with sense of humour." Harry sighed.

At that point the ships intercom was filled with beeps and whistles.

"R2-D2 says that he is ordering you not to."

There was a slightly more insistent beep.

"Minion." C-3PO said reluctantly. "Forgive me Master, I am required to give a full and proper translation."

"Don't worry, 3PO. Like I said; sense of humour."

Harry was beginning to worry his friends as he became more focused on his personal mission to end the Hutt Crime Syndicates and free the slaves. He had begun creating scenarios where Barriss would sit inside a massive shipping crate from a droid ship. Inside would be R2-D2 and a ton of sensor equipment.

Outside the crate, the droids, gungans, wookies and humans walked various patrol paths and a separate command centre was filled with even more sensors.

Even Jedi Vos and his Padawan where involved.

So far, Harry hadn't managed to get near the crate. He had been discovered by patrols. The closest he got was when they used indoor setups.

"I need a broom." Harry sighed as he sat down in the large tent that was used for debriefings.

"He means a magical broom that would let him fly." Sirius quickly explained. He could see several people gearing up to ask what would only be embarrassing questions.

"What… what sets these magical brooms apart from the methods of flying we have in our galaxy?" Vos asked.

"They are powered purely by magic, so Force users probably couldn't sense them." Harry explained. "They also don't create heat and… erm… disturbance?"

"You are referring to the backwash created by the jetpacks?" One of the Naboo trainers asked.

"Weesa havings moocha different tekie to yoosa." The Gungan trainer spoke up. "Weesa should experiment!" He said with clear glee.

Chewie spoke up.

"Master Chewbacca asks why we can't recreate a broomstick." C-3PO translated for those who couldn't understand. "He asks if Master Sirius' speeder bike is made the same way."

Chewbacca flinched backwards as Sirius' orb shot to inches in front of his face. "You are a bloody genius! Just like your old grandpa!"

Sirius had sequestered himself, R2-D2, Chewbacca and Yoda in a science lab at the palace. Padme had been a little put out at not being asked or even consulted.

Instead she declared she needed a short break and insisted Harry do the same.

Which was why Harry found himself standing in front of a tall brunette in the entry hall of a country mansion on Naboo. Padme was not here as the queen. That would not be permitted by…

"Finally decided to visit your commoner sister, Padme?" The brunette smirked.

Padme just glared. "Forgive me, Sola. I was a little busy trying to save our planet from an invasion!"

"But not too busy to find a nice young man?" She looked at Harry. "Did you know you are the first boyfriend she's ever brought home?" She asked teasingly.

Harry stood there, trying not to blush.

"Sola, either you behave yourself or I will have Harry incapacitate you. I will then spend all of my time here spoiling my nieces rotten."

Sola Naberrie scoffed. "Threats and blackmail, Padme? Is-"

"Padme? Is that you?" A dark haired man asked, clearly surprised and thrilled to see the incognito queen. "Come here my little sister!"

"Damn you Darred." Sola grumbled. "Come with me, Harry. My husband loves to spoil Padme more than Padme likes to spoil my daughters!" She took his hand and led him off.

Harry had no idea what to do.

He knew he should have brought 3PO.

Darred and Padme soon joined Sola and Harry in the kitchen. Harry was looking completely out of his depth as he held the six-month-old Pooja and Sola struggled to get three-year-old Ryoo to eat her lunch.

"Pa pa!" Ryoo squealed in delight as she saw Padme.

"Hey little one!" Padme beamed as she crossed the kitchen to kiss her eldest niece on the head. "Are you being a good little girl?"

"Uh huh." She gave an angelic smile… covered in mush.

"Good little girls eat their lunch without making a fuss." Sola said archly. "Here." She shoved the spoon to Padme. "You take over. I'll start on our lunch."

"Erm…"

"Keep doing what you are doing, Harry." Sola instructed without looking at the terrified wizard.

"She's been extra fussy today. I'm Darred, Sola's wife and these two angels' father."

"Please don't go spreading lies, Husband. There is a true deficit of angels in this house." Sola piped up from somewhere.

"Do you want her back then?" Harry asked the taller man hopefully.

"Harry, learn from the mistakes of others. You do not disturb a baby once they are settled unless you absolutely have to. Trust us, we've done it." Darred chuckled.

"So what finally brought you out to visit family?" Sola asked.

"You could easily come and visit me." Padme countered as she continued to feed Ryoo.

"No, Padme. We can't." She said tiredly. "We all agreed to keep the family name separate from your work as the Queen."

"Padme Naberrie is just a handmaiden. Her Majesty, Queen Amidala, would love to have her friend's family visit." Padme said primly. "You'd like to visit the big city, wouldn't you Ryoo?"

"Ya ya ya!" She cried happily. Pretty much anything Aunty did was cause for celebration in the toddler's mind.

"Erm… sir… I think there's a problem."

Three heads snapped to the youngest male.

"Sola… why didn't you show Harry how to hold a baby after feeding?" Darred grumbled as he gently relieved the wizard of his youngest daughter. "Help clean him up."

"Oh mercy." Sola groaned. "I'm so sorry, Harry." She said as she grabbed a dish rag to clean the spit-up all over his jacket.

"Don't worry, I've got it." Harry said as he took out his wand and vanished the mess. He cast a few freshening charms too.

"Wow… I've never seen someone do that. You can't be a Jedi if you are courting Padme." Sola frowned.

"No, I… I'm different to Force users. I work with the Jedi though."

"So, how old are you, Harry?" Darred tried to steer the conversation to a more benign topic.

"I'm fif- I might be fifteen." Harry frowned. He wasn't sure how long he had been in this galaxy. It was July when he took his tumble through the portal, the end of the school year. He had to have been here over a month so- "No, I'm definitely sixteen. Padme, has it been more than thirty-one days since we met?"

"It's been nearly a year, Harry." She said in exasperation as she finished cleaning Ryoo.

"Oh… maybe seventeen."

"You don't know your birthday?" Sola queried.

"I do, but the calendar is different from where I'm from. Also, I don't remember the exact date I left my world."

"Hmm... I suppose that's what caught Padme's eye." She said mock seriously. "Tall, dark and mysterious."

Harry frowned as Padme objected in the background. "I'm not tall. I'm barely taller than Padme."

"I like Harry because of who he is." Padme poked her sister in the chest as Ryoo clung to her skirt. "He is a kind and brave individual. Not only has he single handedly-"

"Padme!" Harry tried to stop her from spilling secrets.

She blushed.

Sola and Darred shared a look of curiosity.

"I am so sorry, Harry." Padme apologised as she walked up to him and took his hand. "Harry and I need to have a quick talk. We'll be right back."

Sola stepped up next to where Darred was cleaning Pooja as the teens left. "How long do you think it will be before they notice Ryoo?"

Padme came bustling back into the room holding Ryoo under the armpits. "Private time, little one. Stay with Mummy." She then rushed back out.

"About that long." Darred answered.

Sola and Darred where both made privy to Harry's secrets. Padme was under no delusions regarding the amount of trust and faith Harry had placed in her. Only Master Yoda and R2-D2 had Harry's complete trust. And she knew it.

They spent just a week with Padme's family. It would have been longer, but Sola threw them out and told them to come around more often.

Most of that week was spent watching Ryoo play with Padme and Paddy. Harry learnt Ryoo had a favourite word: 'why'.

The second week was spent at Harry's estate on Naboo. This had come as a shock to Harry. Apparently Sirius had never gotten around to telling him about the gift from Naboo that Sio Bibble had arranged.

It was here, the two of them alone in the mansion with no one but Paddy for company, that the young couple moved their relationship forward with regards to physical intimacy.

It was here they uttered their love for each other.

"I'm not going to stand for re-election."

Harry frowned as he turned on his side to look at his beautiful lover. They were both naked under the covers of the bed.

"Why? You've done a good job so far. I'd be willing to bet that you are one of the few monarchs of Naboo to have defended their people in a time of war."

Padme turned and faced him. "My focus has changed. Before, I was focused on being the best Queen I could be. I knew that I was impartial when needed and heavily biased where appropriate.

"Now I am focused on being with you." Her expression turned to one of mock exasperation. "Trying to keep you alive, healthy and out of trouble."

"As Queen you can order your people to keep me safe, when possible." He added.

"Padme would do that. But the Queen can't. She can't abuse her powers like that."

"Want me to justify it for you?" He smirked.

She gave him a wry smile. "Go on then."

"You, Padme Naberrie, Queen of Naboo, know that I, Harry Potter, am the Emperor of Magic. Naboo has allied itself with the Empire. They are considering becoming a part of the Empire.

"As such, the Queen ordering her troops to keep Harry Potter safe… is nothing short of true loyalty and friendship."

"A nice attempt, Harry. But not enough." She smiled softly. She shifted closer, snuggling into his warm, naked body.

"Talk to your friends and advisors first?"

"What do you think I am doing now?"

"Then follow my advice. Talk to your friends and advisors… plural."

Padme did just that. As soon as she and Harry arrived back at the palace, she gathered her handmaidens and closest confidants, including Yoda.

Harry, meanwhile was presented with Sirius' latest and greatest invention.

"Ta da!"

Harry looked from the beaming holocron of his godfather and then at the subject of the nutjob's pride.

"It's a piece of wood." Harry said blankly.

"Harry, Harry, Harry." Sirius said disappointedly. "Have you not been paying attention to Yoda's lessons?"

Harry bent forward at the waist so his nose was millimetres from the hologram. "Take a look around you, Sirius. How hard do you think I would have to try to convince someone here to mess with your orb?"

Sirius gulped as he saw the grinning Chewbacca and attentive R2-D2.

But then he soldiered on. "To any one not capable of wielding magic or the Force, it is a piece of wood. A simple, flat, square, finger thick slice of a tree.

"But… to those with the power to wield magic and an awesome godfather, it is the key to flight!"

Harry stood up straight and turned to the wookie. "Chewie, can you make it so Sirius is wearing one of those frilly dresses the little human girls wear?"

Chewbacca chuckled and stepped forward, he absently nudged the floating orb out of the way. "Sirius knows the runes for flight. They are the same ones on his speeder.

"We can help you carve and empower this piece of wood. You could strap it to your back and fly anytime you needed."

Harry turned back to his godfather. "See? Now why couldn't you have just said that?"

Harry spent a lot of time carving and enchanting.

He also spent a fair amount of time in the palace medical wing under the glare of Padme and her handmaidens.

Experimentation and failure often pave the way on the path to success.

Padme, meanwhile, was having to sit through pleas, lectures, forecasts… anything the government could come up with to convince her to stand for re-election. It didn't help that there wasn't anyone willing to run against her.

Certainly, there were those with political ambition, a dream to fulfil, even a sense of entitlement. But the mood of the people was clear. Amidala was their Queen. She would be their Queen so long as they had a voice.

"Padme?" Harry asked with concern as his girlfriend shucked her clothes and crawled into his bunk, naked.

"Shut-up Harry. I've had a tiring day."

"Yeah but-"

"If they are so intent on forcing me to be Queen then they can deal with the fact that I am sleeping with the man I love." She grumbled as she wrapped an arm around his chest possessively.

"Has Naboo made the final decision to join the Empire?" Harry asked quietly.

"Of course." She said as though the answer was obvious.

"I'll have the Emperor talk to them."

"It won't help." She warned lightly.

The following morning, Padme informed Harry they would be sleeping in her bed in the palace.

Granted, she had woken up and fallen three feet onto the cold hard floor. Harry managed to heal the nasty bruise, but he wasn't going to argue.

It was two days before a ship 'transporting the Emperor' arrived in the system. Harry calmly informed R2 that in the future he would pretend to have apparated.

R2 had retorted that he wouldn't let his puppet do something so stupid as travel without a royal guard.

Sirius and Chewbacca just laughed as the astromech put the wizard in his place.

And so, The Emperor and his personal droids, H2-P2 and I-8AP held council with the Queen of Naboo and her government.

"I have heard disturbing tales of forced servitude upon the planet of Naboo." The Emperor said gravely.

"Your Majesty, we have heard no such thing. Naboo has always been a supporter of the laws prohibiting such cruel acts." A female said passionately. "Why, our own Queen was instrumental in the liberation of two slaves on Tatooine during her escape from the Trade Federation."

"So, you claim that a person cannot be forced to work for another?"

Sio Bibble was standing at the back of the group and trying not to sigh in exasperation. He knew why Harry was all dressed up. He was also one of the main supporters for Padme remaining as Queen.

"Of course, Milord." A man responded. "The only exception is if the person is a felon. They can be assigned to work for the throne in lieu of prison time."

"And has her Majesty, Queen Amidala, committed acts that would see her labelled a felon?"

They were outraged. "Absolutely not!" The woman declared heatedly. She turned to the Queen, who was actually Sabe. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I cannot stand here and listen to anyone cast aspersions upon you!"

"Andele!" The group turned to the old governor. "His Majesty, The Emperor, is leading you down a verbal trap." Sio groused. "I know for a fact that he travelled here just to defend our Queen's right to abdicate. He is alluding to the fact that we are demanding Queen Amidala remain on the throne, against her will."

"But this is an internal matter!" The woman argued. "We were promised that the Empire would not encroach on our sovereign rights."

"His Majesty was invited to partake in this matter by Queen Amidala." C-3PO stated as a representative of the Emperor. "Furthermore, the actions of the Naboo government are seen as violating the charter as agreed to when Naboo joined the Empire."

"Please, Your Majesties, could we all just take a step back and discuss this openly and without veiled allusions?" A younger man pleaded.

"Her Majesty has heard your arguments, considered them, and made her decision. What more could possibly be said?" C-3PO asked.

The man bowed to the Emperor. "Sir, we have made our arguments to Her Majesty. I ask only that you allow us to bring our concerns to you, and that you consider them. If you agree in our favour, we ask only that you try to persuade our Queen from her course."

"Are these arguments any different than the ones you have brought before your Queen?" The Emperor asked.

"Unlikely, but they may appear slightly different, the messenger makes all the difference." The man said respectfully.

The Emperor stood there looking at him.

The Queen suddenly became worried. "Emperor!"

The Emperor turned to the Queen. "Your Majesty, I haven't heard anything so profound since Master Yoda declared that all members of his Order are Jedi, but not all Jedi are members of his Order." The Emperor reasoned. "I cannot in good conscience ignore what this… gentleman has said.

"Please, walk with me and explain your concerns."

"Emperor!"

"My stance has not changed, Queen Amidala." He assured her. "You cannot be forced into remaining Queen. But, I am curious as to what he has to say."

"Surely you must listen to all of us then!" The woman, Andele, argued.

The Emperor tilted his head thoughtfully. "Consider what the gentleman said about 'the messenger'. Then consider whether you would serve better than he could."

"Jared, go with the Emperor." Sio ordered. "Your Majesty, I will alert the guards that you will be walking the grounds."

"So, why don't you run for election?" The Emperor asked as he strolled past a large fountain with the man, Jared.

"I have neither the bearing, the lineage nor the appropriate temperament." Jared shook his head firmly. "I would be a poor leader. My skills lie in advising."

"Sometimes you have to push yourself." The Emperor challenged. "Her Majesty became Queen with a desire to better her people through law and legislation. Circumstance meant that she had to learn to be a warrior."

"And that is just one of the many reasons we are fighting so hard for her to remain Queen." Jared said passionately. "We understand that she is young, she has dedicated her childhood to her world. If anyone has earned the right to decide their fate, it is our Queen."

"But… ?"

Jared stopped and faced the imposing figure of the Emperor. "There are many reasons, logical reasons that she should remain Queen. Despite the fact that the current laws demand she undergo election and that she be limited to only two terms on the throne.

"I could list them for you, but instead, why do we not discuss the great lengths we are prepared to go to make it so that she will enjoy being Queen, so that it will not infringe on her personal life and choices."

"Oh?"

"There is a lot of tradition involved when it comes to being the monarch. We are more than willing to cut back on many of the ceremonial events and even the makeup and dress of the Queen." Jared said as he began walking again. "I am recently married." He chuckled. "I have often heard the complaints from my wife regarding the hassle of makeup."

"I imagine it is… annoying." The Emperor agreed with a laugh. "It is a difficult to don this armour all the time. Often it is claustrophobic."

"Well, those are just the simplest of things we are willing to change for her. We are also willing to not only support any decision she makes to start a family, but to also bestow life time titles and privileges for her family."

"Yes… that will really make her refuse to stay on." The Emperor said glibly. "I seriously recommend you drop those ideas or she may simply run away."

Jared blushed. "Those were merely examples of the extremes we are willing to go for her."

"Fine, explain something to me. Why Amidala? Why specifically her? There must be other individuals on this planet who can measure up to her."

Jared shook his head. "There truly isn't. On one hand, we have the citizens of Naboo. They adore her and they find comfort knowing she is there for them.

"On the other hand, there is literally no one on this planet who has stood before the combined might of the Republic Senate, drawn arms and taken on an invading army, negotiated the planet into a new alliance… I'm sure there is much more that I am simply not cleared to know."

"You make her sound like some prophesied Chosen One."

"Prophesied, no. But she has clearly been chosen."

"Do you know the problem with 'Chosen Ones'?" The Emperor queried. "They never get to choose for themselves."

Jared lowered his head as they walked. "I want to say that everyone must sacrifice something… but, I cannot as I have never sacrificed as much as Her Majesty."

"Smart man." The Emperor chuckled as he rubbed his left shoulder. "I will talk with Her Majesty, I will not attempt to change her mind, but I will discuss things with her."

After a few seconds the Emperor looked around. He noticed guards running towards him. Then he saw Jared, lying on the ground a few meters behind him.

The Emperor immediately ran to his side and grabbed him in his arms before vanishing with a loud crack.

"Who would want to kill him?" Harry demanded as he paced in common area of The Ghost. "He wasn't exactly high-ranking, he-"

"Pup, they were trying to kill you." Sirius interrupted his still armoured, yet de-masked, godson.

"And they missed that badly?"

"They hit you." Chewbacca growled angrily. "You even felt it. We checked the security logs. Whatever hairless mongrel did this used solid rounds. It bounced off you and hit the human."

Harry was stricken. "This was my fault?"

"Pup, don't make me get Yoda in here to lecture you on responsibility." Sirius warned. "Besides, you got the advisor to the infirmary and he should be fine.

"Right now, there are several Jedi tracking down the sniper."

"Where's R2?" Harry asked.

The little droid's beeps and whistled sounded over the intercom.

"He is listening, Master Harry." C-3PO translated.

"Tell the droid ship to get ready to leave. I need to go and see Padme. If the Emperor is being targeted, then I need to get away from civilians."

Harry looked to C-3PO as R2 made some rather… emphatic noises.

"Master Harry, I beg you, please don't make me repeat what that little terror says."

"Can you give us the gist?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

"He said 'no'."

"R2-"

Harry was interrupted by the droid. "R2 says that you shouldn't run. Protect the people by dealing with the threat."

C-3PO paused as R2 squawked.

"I refuse to repeat such crass language!" C-3PO responded to the astro-mech, aghast. He quickly turned to Harry. "Unless you order me too, of course, Master Harry."

"If I'm that interested, I'll read what he said." Harry assured the golden droid.

R2-D2 started to beep again.

"R2-D2!" 3PO was outraged. "Master Harry was clearly the target of the attack! What if he did get hurt?"

Harry sighed and activated his helmet. It was a newer version that folded back when not in use. It also allowed him to use the built-in display to see what R2 was saying.

For such an experienced Protocol Droid, C-3PO was easily side-tracked.

R2 had ordered Harry to join Knight Vos and Padawan Secura as they were close to reaching the assassin. R2 had pointed out that, unless the assassin was a magic user, they couldn't touch Harry.

His armour had just shrugged off a powerful sniper shot and he hadn't even noticed. Not only was this version of the armour laced with Phrik, it was also heavily enchanted under Sirius' instruction.

The two Jedi were on a rooftop in what could be considered the poor part of the city. Except Naboo was very prosperous and Padme had ensured that the wealth prevented anyone suffering from destitution.

Really, this was the warehouse district. It was right next to the city's trading spaceport.

It meant that this was where the space pilots and crews tended to hang around. It also had a relatively high crime rate.

The sun was beginning to set when Harry silently arrived behind them. Aayla nearly screamed but Quinlan managed to get a hand over her mouth.

"Your Majesty." He greeted blandly. "I'm surprised you are out here."

Harry harrumphed. "Contrary to popular belief, I am not the one in charge of the Empire of Magic. I follow orders like everyone else."

"And those orders were to place yourself in further danger?"

"It was pointed out to me that my armour shrugged off that shot and the only reason I knew it hit was because of my armour's sensors. Even then I didn't realise what it meant. Provided nobody tries to hit me with a cannon, I should be safe."

The Emperor paused and then sagged.

"A problem?" Quinlan enquired.

"No, apparently my superiors never considered that the enemy would have cannons." He replied dryly.

"What about lightsabers?" Aayla spoke up.

"Useless against my armour."

"Your armour is composed of Phrik?" The Emperor had the Knight's full attention now.

"Yes. It was recommended by some friends."

Vos' attention was momentarily grabbed by the nearby bar. "We should talk later, Your Majesty."

Aayla could only look on in confusion.

"That is the assassin." Vos nodded to a cloaked figure skulking out the front door of the bar.

"I'll defer to your expertise, Knight Vos. Feel free to use me as you see fit."

Vos was silent for a moment. "Padawan, confront the assassin. You do not need to engage or capture them. I would prefer that they attempt to flee down an alley.

"The Emperor and I will watch from the rooftops and ambush them."

"Yes Master." The twi'lek nodded before jumping off the roof.

Vos turned to the Emperor. "Harry, we must talk soon. It is too easy for Force users to match your dual identities."

Harry slumped in defeat.

Vos patted the armoured shoulder. "Go, use your training. This will be a good field test for all you have been through."