Force and Magic: Paradise Lost
Chapter One: A New Home
One day out from Tatooine
Fay was in the cockpit of her ship they were a day out of Tatooine and Harry had been unconscious the entire time but she noted his body was repairing itself faster. She had been watching the stars streak by in hyperspace. She had been meditating for most of the time. She opened her eyes as the Holocomm activating the holocomm with the force she smiled as the image resolved showing Shmi, Padme, Beru and Baby Cassandra.
"How are they?" Shmi asked sharply before drawing a breath "How is Harry?"
"Bib Fortuna made his move" Fay admitted seeing the look of concern cross their face and decided to put them out of their misery "A fighter was dispatched Harry was injured before I scared it off. Thantas was driven into the ground but otherwise unhurt. Anakin lost to his little brother. Anakin and Thantas are piloting Harry's ship. Harry is currently unconscious in the Bacta tank. Assajj, Ahsoka and Hermione are on Assajj's ship they are a day behind us."
She could see everyone relax and smiled "Now, how is everybody settling in?"
"Owen and Dad are in Theed with transports waiting" Beru said facing Cassandra toward the holocomm "Little miss here misses her and uncles"
Fay could feel Cassandra in the force like a gentle light encompassing the young child. "Hello Cassandra don't you worry your unclse and Aunt will see you in a little while. You be good for your mother and Grandmother!"
Cassandra giggled and waved her arms toward the Jedi master "Padme is everything I asked for in place?"
"Yes, Working with Masters Windu and Yoda The queen and people of Naboo Are happy to host a a jedi Temple it is called Jinn's Respite!"
Fay was taken aback at the gesture "Thank you Senator Amidala, I can not tell you what it will mean to Obi-Wan and Anakin. I am going to go check on Harry we will see you tomorrow afternoon"
Same Time on the Narec's Temperance
Hermione, Ahsoka and Assajj had soent the previous day of travel enjoying each others company. Ahsoka and Assajj both helping Hermione fine tune some of her abilities. Hermione showing them bits and pieces of magic she had learned. They were sitting in the cockpit of the Narek's Temperance. Assajj was educating Hermione and Ahsoka on the ship systems so they could take shifts. "Harry and the others are expecting us in two days. However, I may have misled everyone about my ships capabilities and we will be arriving a half hour after they do." Pain flared across their bond causing them all to wince. "Hermione has he always been so…?" the Dathomirian girl asked. Leaving the sentence hanging.
Hermione thought about it a little bit "Self-destructive, cute, oblivious, or noble." Hermione asked trying to fill in the blanks "During our first year of school he jumped on a Mountain Troll's back to save me" she said thinking of the mountain troll and the girls got the image and there was a gasp from Assajj
"That thing is what four almost five meters in height." She cried "How? Why?"
"How, was sheer dumb luck" Hermione said quietly "the why can be summed up in three words. Ronald Billius Weasely the Man who violated and was responsible for my death back at Hogwarts."
The girls gathered Hermione into a hug Assajj spoke in soft tone "I was trying to keep you alive while Harry dealt with him and his lackeys. When you died, I felt and watched him snap he started to reach for power through his rage" she explained "we were able to get through to him only barely. On the upside your sister and niece have been adopted into the Potter family and from what I understand they were able to stop an assassin who was going to kill them both. At the end of the day, he had struck down Ronald Weasely in an act of defense."
Hermione looked worried "There is a thought I did not need" the bitterness flowed in her voice "Harry and I died on earth but were somehow sent here. What if Ronald was sent here as well, he has many of the same base skills harry and I have but his anger and jealousy will definitely draw him in."
"We can talk to Harry about it when we get to Naboo" Ahsoka said confidently causing the others to look at her
"Ahsoka, I can't help but notice that you share an unusually strong bond with Harry Stronger than mine or Assajj's if you don't mind could you tell us how you met Harry." Hermione asked "Please"
"You have to understand I am old for a padawan learner to be chosen as I am almost 14 lifedays old" Ahsoka began looking down "One day during saber training drills I could not seem to connect as well as I usually did and master Yoda told me to reach out into the force. I struggled with it for an hour and as I was about to give up Harry was suddenly there." She sighed contentedly "he calmed and sustained me while we talked, I did all my saber drills to perfection. Later I shared a vision of us both older and very together. We bonded in that moment. It has led to something of a small schism in the order. It took the ghost of a revered master and a threat from Master Yoda to bring most of them to their senses."
"I guess it is my turn" Assajj said beginning g her tale "twelve years ago I was found by Master Ky Narec on Rattattak where he was stranded for ten years, we were there he trained me as a Jedi. Two years ago, he was killed by Weequay raiders. In my rage I killed them all and took their ship. I fell to the Darkside where Count Dooku or as I know him Darth Tyranus took up my training. I was assigned by His master to infiltrate Harry's life and either subvert him or kill him." Assajj looked down shame evident in her face.
"What changed?" Hermione asked "How did you go from being sent to kill him to being in bond with him"
"Well for a few months I moved cargo around to solidify my cover before making berth on Tatooine" she paused "I was walking through the Bazaar when a group of jabba the Hutt's capture squads. I know I would fetch a handsome price as a slave I am more than fairly attractive. They caught up to me in a dead end alley I was about to activate my lightsaber and eliminate the problem when my…Harry walked into the alley" she paused and looked at her feet and in a small voice "I know what he did now but at the time I could not help but wonder if he had a death wish. The leader of the party who had been hunting me informed me it was my lucky day. They did not stand a chance Harry trashed them. I told him I was freighter captain and he immediately decided to offer me a contract." She broke off looking embarrassed.
"That's not all that happened?" Hermione asked causing Assajj to blush even more.
"Not exactly, look you have to understand right up until that moment I was Sith through and through but touched me and I could not help myself it felt like I was on fire and the next thing I knew we were kissing and Ahsoka was in my head."
"It was quite the kiss!" Ahsoka admitted then whispered "the level of attraction between them was intense just thinking about it makes me …wet"
"However, it paled in comparison to the moment you bonded with him" Assajj said quietly looking intently at Hermione "He travelled realities for you even believing on some level you hated him."
"I never hated him, Ron Weasely our supposed best friend drugged me with a potion that allowed him to control me. He used me in every way possible and the potion ensured I loved it. He stole my best friend from me." Hermione seethed "I will never forgive nor forget what he did to us."
"Hermione, you must let go , to hold on to those feelings will lead down the dark path" Ahsoka said sagely only for Assajj to chime in.
"Ahsoka is right holding onto the negative will drive you toward the dark." Assajj stated "Trust me I know"
Aboard Fay's Ship
Whatever Hermione was going to say was stalled by a wave of pain passed through their bond and a startling clarity of thought before it began to drowse again
Harry's physical body drifted in the Bacta tank his mind drifted along the current of the force. As he drifted, he saw many things. The death of Mater Yaddle and Hermione. He felt shame from Assajj watching helplessly as she fled from their bed. He saw the order turn on Ahsoka. He saw them arguing, she was leaving and told him not to follow that she would find her own path. He felt and saw the shadow slowly consuming the Jedi Order. He was once again in the temple he saw the bodies of masters, padawan's and younglings all. He saw a dead eyed Hermione sitting at Ron Weasley's feet. The fight that ensued tore down what was left of the temple. Finally exhausted Ron fell as his head was removed but not before he once again killed Hermione.
Harry awoke with start gasping in pain as his leg throbbed. he could feel the thrum of the hyperdrive, he could feel his bonded companions he felt a gentle hand rest on his brow "It is alright Harry, rest now tomorrow we will be at Naboo. Everyone is anxious to see you." His master said softly offering comfort to the young man.
Naboo near nightfall the next day
Fay Made planetfall while Harry was still sleeping even the landing could not wake him. Shmi, Obi-Wan, Yaddle and Master Yoda met the ships as they landed at the space port. Anakin and Thantas walked down the gang plank first Coming face to face with their relative masters "I am not going to apologize master" Anakin said to Obi-Wan "if it would have been you staying behind, I would have done the same thing.
"Returned alive you have," Yaddle asked already knowing the answer "And young Harry his message delivered it was?"
"Yes, master it was received loud and clear as promised there was no loss of life. Harry is just out of it right now" Seeing Shmi's worried face "He got shot in the leg by a repeating heavy blaster that some sand people had gotten a hold of He is sleeping in the med bay now Master Fay is probably changing the bandage now."
Shmi nodded her head gave both Anakin and Thantas a hug "I want you both home tonight as it may be the last time in a long time the entire family will be together. She said she went onto the ship to the med bay she found Fay sitting beside her son dozing in a chair settling on the other side "Fay go get some rest I will watch over him now."
Fay opened her eyes and Shmi could see tears welling up "We are supposed to protect and guide them not the other way around. He was shot and in pain and he kept going. a fighter craft tried to kill him and he kept going. Instead of celebrating his victory immediately after winning the race he went back for his sister. He numbed his legs and beat Fortuna and helped save Jabba He won't quit Shmi!" She said her tears falling.
Shmi gathered the woman into a hug "We did not bear him. He has had trials before he came to us, they forced him into the young man we both know and love. We need to teach him it is okay to rest and let others carry the burden. As the republic was not built in one day neither to will this be"
They hear d a rumbling and were surprised when Assajj's ship landed beside Fay's "I thought they were two days behind us?"
"I don't care how they did it we are going to need the three of them to keep harry in bed resting while he heals up" Shmi said quietly "I give them f minutes"
"I say two!" Fay countered
"You would both be wrong" A voice both of them had heard inside Harry's subconscious both turned to meet the newest addition to their clan. "Hermione Granger, I have known Harry since he was 11 years old!"
"Welcome home Hermione!" Shmi said happily only to be interrupted
"Is Harry going to be okay" a small voice got their attention as Ahsoka and Assajj stood by the door
"Yes Ahsoka" Master fay said "Maybe not today, tomorrow or even next month but yes he will eventually be okay How about you girls will you be okay"
"I am doing well we discovered something disconcerting today. We feel what Harry feels when he feels it" Ahsoka explained, continuing on "Yesterday when he got shot, we all felt his pain. I also felt his resolve to protect all of us."
"Not yet, give me a year or five and then we will talk about it" Harry said croaked before closing his eyes and dozing off Ahsoka Approached from the other side and kissed him on the cheek an act she had been doing in her head for a few days now when they parted.
"You need to remember Knight Protector you are not alone we have you, I have you and I will not let you fall."
"I won't let you fall either 'soka" Harry mumbled as she his kissed her forehead in his sleep."
"Cute it is but nauseating too" Master Yaddle said as she hobbled in "He knows, He is. Not will be but is."
"I can Probably heal his leg but I don't think he will appreciate it much." Hermione offered
"Why is that 'Mione?" Ahsoka asked causing Hermione to smile
"Because it is battlefield healing so there is none of the numbing that normally goes with healing" She explained easily with his mother and master's permission I will do this but only if I have their permission"
"Please perform the healing on my padawan it is high time we all had a discussion" The flawless jedi master said quietly "We need to have it sooner rather than later all of your training is beginning in earnest now. Yaddle has expressed an interest in taking on Hermione as a padawan learner, Assajj, Master Kenobi is willing to finish your training. Even Harry has a student the young Twi'lek
Hermione and Assajj sat on the ramp into the transport talking. Harry was now sleeping comfortably but, Assajj had a feeling of dread growing in her gut since making berth on Naboo. Scant hours ago, she felt a malevolence the likes of which she felt the one time when Ron Weasely had tried to use the torture curse on Harry. She had just pulled Hermione up and sent her into the house and was performing a walk around inspection of the temperance. As she did, she let her senses reach out into the force she found they were being watched she changed her path so she could identify the threat when she came around the nose of the ship, she feigned worry when inspecting a spot on the hull. She knelt and scanned the spot before getting up and with a yawn turned back to the house, she got a good look at him. It was Ron Weasely. A moment later he was gone as if he was never there. 'I don't know if they will believe me if I tell them
Ron had been here for weeks waiting so deep was his boredom he almost missed the Skywalker clan's arrival from his place across the small lake that separated the two villa's he saw her. 'Figures she is alive' he thought to himself as his anger grew, he began to plan her destruction a second time. Then he got a look at both Assajj and Ahsoka all three girls were gorgeous. 'Harry Potter does not deserve them.' He thought to himself as he watched the girl inspect the ship and was caught off guard as she looked right at him in a blink he had cloaked himself in the dark side and followed up with a wandless disillusionment charm not sure if she realized what she had seen Ron thought it better to retreat for the moment. 'Enjoy your time with your women Harry Skywalker. They will all be mine when you are dead at my feet." He turned walking deeper into the trees that surrounded the lake.
Assajj felt the malevolence fade and wondered if he had seen her. Reaching through the bond they shared she gently nudged harry until he started to wake then nudged the other two girls "Meet me on the temperance in ten minutes we need to talk"
On a planet far away, an old man awoke having felt a shift in the force with the coming of the Knight Protector he came out of his hut seeing his son and daughter He could see his son was fuming the force was returning to balance with no regards to his sons trying to change it. Daughter seemed relieved "The Knight protector has come in time both the chosen one and the knight protector will come here when they do it will be my end. Know this son Against the knight protector you will never win. Nothing the dark side can offer will sway him he is beyond you." His daughter smiled thinking that means he was of the light "Daughter while he is of the light, he has no place in it He stands at the bridge making sure no harm comes any he is sworn to protect. To try to thwart his purpose is to try your hand against death."
"Father, I would never Move against such an auspicious personage as the Knight Protector is bound to be." Son spoke sibilantly "However I will nudge others to do my work for me. After all Balance must be maintained"
Authors note: This the first instalment is in enjoy.