Chapter Eight: Plans and New Arrivals.

Harry woke the next morning, still very unsettled. He had examined all possible reasons for Voldemort to tell him what he had and had come to the conclusion that his former enemy was jealous of what Sidious had managed to achieve. Smirking, he wondered if Voldemort and Sidious could be the founding members of an "I Hate Harry Potter" club. Both certainly seemed to like messing around with his life and Harry was getting a bit sick of it.

Stretching out, he noticed that Ginny wasn't with him, and remembered that she had had an early shift at the hospital wing that week. Shrugging he got up, dressed himself in a clean uniform and went to check on his apprentice.

Damien was still fast asleep when Harry opened the door to his bedroom. The Jedi Master merely smiled at the sight, relieved once again that they had both made it through the mission alive and relatively unscathed. He then frowned as he remembered Siri and wished that there was something he could do to help her. Unfortunately there wasn't and all he could do was be there for support if she needed it.

As he watched, Damien rolled over a bit too far and ended up rolling out of bed. Harry was vastly amused when this didn't wake him up, and instead the Padawan merely continued to sleep. Shaking his head, Harry levitated Damien back into bed and covered him up again. He would let his apprentice sleep as long as he needed to, he deserved the rest. Smiling again, he turned and headed for the kitchen, making breakfast for himself and Damien with swift ease. Taking some for himself he left the rest under a warming charm so that when his Padawan woke up it wouldn't be cold.

10 minutes later he'd finished with breakfast and had washed and put away the dishes he'd used. Looking round and seeing nothing else that needed doing he went to call the group that had been in his apartment the previous night. Half an hour later saw them all in the common area, with the addition of Mace, who Harry felt needed to hear the news as well.

When they were all seated Obi-Wan asked, "Harry, where's your Padawan?" Harry looked at his friend and replied, "Still asleep, the mission took a lot out of him."

"He's OK though?" Anakin asked, worry lines creasing his forehead at the thought of his "little brother" hurt in any way. Harry smirked and replied, "Yes he's fine Anakin. For his first real battle he did extraordinarily well. I wouldn't be sitting here right now if it weren't for him you know. He saved my life at least twice that I know of."

"And you were worried that you wouldn't be a good Master" Mace said with a smirk. The rest of the group looked puzzled and Harry merely groaned. "Don't bring that up Mace, besides you know my reasons for doubting myself in those days."

At the quizzical looks from his friends, Harry sighed and said, "When I took Anakin as my Padawan I was beset with doubts about my ability to raise and teach him. Most of those doubts were the same as those of any new Master but some were connected to my past."

At Anakin's raised eyebrow he growled and snapped, "You know how I was raised so just think about what type of doubt I might have been feeling." Anakin thought for a few seconds before giving Harry a crooked grin.

"You didn't though and you couldn't have been worse than Watto was" he replied. Harry smirked. "I wouldn't have liked the person I was though so I'm glad I didn't."

Padme was looking confused. "Mind clarifying that cryptic stuff?" she asked. Anakin looked at Harry who merely replied, "I grew up abused by my relatives because I had magic. I was afraid that I would continue that cycle with Anakin. Obviously I didn't but still the fear was there."

The assembled group looked at him in sympathy until Harry growled again and asked, "Can we get back on track here?"

Bail decided to start. "Have you heard about the new measures the Chancellor is bringing in?" he asked. Harry frowned. "I just got back from Adumar yesterday Bail, so no I haven't. Is it serious?"

Padme jumped in and replied, "Yes it is. The Chancellor is imposing new measures under the guise of protecting the Republic citizens from the Separatists. Regional governers were appointed yesterday, and new decrees are coming in almost every week. We're putting together a petition to try and make him see sense but we're not sure of what else we can do. We don't want to consider outright rebellion but we're worried and unsure of our options."

Harry sat back and hissed a breath out through clenched teeth. Then he sat forward again and hissed out "This is exactly what I didn't want to contemplate."

"Contemplate what Master?" came a voice from behind them. Harry turned to look at the speaker and raised his eyebrows at the messy haired, still sleepy looking Padawan. Grinning he said, "Good morning sleepyhead. Breakfast is on the counter in the kitchen under a warming charm."

"What are you talking about?" Damien pressed. He got the sense he was being left out of something and didn't like it much. Harry sighed. "Something to do with the government Damien."

"Huh. All right, I'll leave you adults to your boring discussions" Damien said with a grin. Harry shook his head and levitated a pillow with the Force and threw it at Damien in retaliation for the comment. Smirking, Damien had his breakfast and then went back to his room to work on the assignments that he'd neglected somewhat due to the mission. He knew that Harry hadn't given the complete reason for the conversation but he also knew that he shouldn't expect to be privy to everything his master did, and so wasn't terribly upset about it. He knew that if he needed to know something then Harry would tell him and that allowed him to squash his curiosity and concentrate on his homework.

Meanwhile, Harry had put up a privacy ward so Damien couldn't eavesdrop. He didn't suspect that his apprentice would do such a thing, but he didn't want Damien hearing the speculation that was going to fly round in that discussion.

"Right, now where were we" he said, once Damien had disappeared into his room. Mace shook his head. "What to do about these new decrees that the Chancellor is introducing."

Bail interjected with "The constitution is in shreds. The Chancellor seems to be constantly amending it, and the Republic is beginning to crumble. If I didn't know better I'd say he was trying to turn it into his own personal empire."

Harry shook his head and his mind flashed back to the unsettling conversation with Voldmort. Looking at Mace and Obi-Wan he indicated with his eyebrows that he needed to give them some information in private afterwards. After they acknowledged his request he looked at the two Senators of the group and replied, "He may very well be but we will keep trying to foil it. Keep talking to anyone that might be sympathetic and try and gain support for that petition. Let's not consider any overt action against him until we've exhausted all other options. The aim here is to try and save the Republic, not continue a civil war."

The Senators nodded and rose to leave, thanking Harry for the time. Anakin walked them to the entrance to the Temple and then came back to see Harry, Mace and Obi-Wan staring at each other intently. Once he'd sat down, he and the others began questioning Harry.

"What did you want to tell us that couldn't be said in front of them Harry?" Obi-Wan asked. Harry shrugged. "What would you say if I told you I had a dream last night in which Voldemort showed up and told me that my suspicions about our Chancellor were true and to start implementing survival plans?"

Mace and Obi-Wan looked highly skeptical. Mace finally answered, "I'd take anything he said with a large amount of salt Harry. Are you sure he was telling the truth?"

Harry frowned. "I couldn't detect any lie in his words and you know what my track record with lie detecting is when using the Force." His companions nodded in agreement and Obi-Wan remarked dryly, "Yes the Padawans are always complaining that you're a walking lie detector Harry. What did he have to say?"

Harry shrugged and then shared the memory of the conversation with his friends. After the memory had finished he saw shocked and unsettled looks on their faces. Anakin then said, "Well, what are we going to do about it then" once he'd got over his shock.

"Start with the evacuation plans for a start. I don't trust Voldemort but what I do trust is my instincts and they're telling me that the scenario he described is possible. Therefore we need to plan to get as many Jedi out of the Temple as possible if an attack should happen" Harry replied.

Mace gave him an assessing look before asking, "How do you plan to do that Harry?" Harry shrugged. "I've been poking round the Temple's lower levels recently and found a secret part of the Temple that could be used as a safe place for the Jedi. The door is not noticeable unless you're really looking for it, I can spell it so that only I or a trusted person can open it or close it. Then once everyone is inside and the door is sealed, the spell will activate and hide it from view from anyone that doesn't know about it."

"I'd like to see it for myself. How do you know that it will hold everyone?" Mace asked. Harry smirked. "Because, this Temple is built on the ruins of the ancient one and the door leads to the ancient Council Chamber, with another door out of that to lower rooms and an exit portal should we need it. The only way into it is that first door I mentioned so it should be safe if I or my parents spelled it correctly."

"How are you planning to hide it though?" Anakin asked. Harry shrugged. "I don't know yet, this is a rough idea I suggested, feel free to refine it any way you wish. I just don't want a situation where lots of us die and I could have helped save some of them."

Mace nodded and turned to the worrying problem of Chancellor Palpatine possibly being a Sith Lord. Despite his trust in Harry's instincts, it went against his nature to believe that the leader of the Republic was in fact their worst enemy. He sighed and stood up.

"We'll think about this Harry and make a decision. Just be very careful around the Chancellor from now on though." Turning to Anakin he added, "That goes for you too Anakin, you're in the most contact with him and you need to be extremely careful. Don't take any unnecessary chances."

Anakin nodded vigorously and replied, "Don't worry, I won't take any chances. Do you want me to try and confirm it?" Head shakes from all three senior Jedi told him that no they didn't. He left to see Padme, worried about the possible repercussions that this could have on the Jedi Order. He knew, as Harry did, that if Palpatine was a Sith then the Jedi were in deep shit.

Several weeks later Harry was lying asleep in bed with Ginny when she woke suddenly at about 3 am. He had got used to this as she was now only a few days away from her due date. She whimpered a bit and then woke him up with a hard poke. He turned over on his side and faced her, only half awake. What she told him though had his eyes snapping wide open in disbelief.

"Harry" she said through gritted teeth, "Our child is on the way." Harry stared at her before leaping out of bed and throwing on a robe before going to the comm. unit.

"Mum" he said as Lily answered with a yawn, "it's time. What do I do?" Lily took a moment to process what Harry had said before she slipped into Healer mode and became professional.

"Bring her to the infirmary, we can monitor her there. Is she in much pain?"

Harry looked back at Ginny who smiled at him before clenching her teeth as a contraction hit. "Er, she's OK for now, but she just had another contraction. Is it safe for her to walk?"

Lily smiled at the obvious worry that was radiating from Harry. "She'll be fine Harry. Bring her to the infirmary now though, and fast."

Harry nodded and cut the connection before placing an arm round Ginny's shoulders and helping her to the infirmary. Once she was settled in a room in the hospital he ran back to the apartment and woke Damien. Understandably the Padawan was annoyed at being told he couldn't stay up but was excited about meeting his new "brother" or "sister" later that morning. Harry then ran back to the infirmary, only pausing to call Obi-Wan and Mace, both of whom congratulated him and promised to visit later before falling back to sleep.

When Harry arrived back at the infirmary he saw James there as well. The older wizard smiled at his son, who was now beginning to exhibit momentary signs of panic, evidenced by his flood of questions about Ginny's safety, and that of the baby.

Finally James had had enough. "Harry, calm down, she'll be fine!" he snapped. Harry didn't listen and kept pacing round and round, until he walked straight into James' fist.

"Did you have to do that James" came the reproachful voice of Minerva McGonagall who had been visiting Harry and the rest for the past week. She had been wandering round in her animagus form when she'd heard the commotion and went to investigate.

James shook his head. "He wouldn't shut up" he replied sheepishly. Minerva fixed him with a look and replied tartly, "I seem to remember a certain other Potter who behaved the same way when his son was born. Sirius had to deck you too correct?"

James smirked and then woke Harry up. He had to dodge a punch from the Jedi Master, but then Harry sat in the chair and kept his emotions under control via meditation. He reached out with the Force and monitored Ginny's condition, wincing as the pain that he felt from her spiked and lowered every few minutes. Finally after a few hours, Lily poked her head out.

"You can come in now Harry" she said with a smile, and then had to jump aside as Harry almost threw the door off its hinges in his haste to see his wife and the new addition to his family.

He stopped dead when he saw Ginny. The witch was lying on the bed, looking exhausted but happy and was holding a little pink wrapped bundle in her arms. The Jedi cautiously approached the bed, almost afraid to touch the small bundle in case it broke.

Ginny smirked and then said, "Harry James Potter, may I introduce you to your daughter, Tamsin Lily Potter."

Harry smiled and then gingerly accepted his new daughter from Ginny. Lily came over to help him settle her in his arms and then stepped back, watching with tears in her eyes as Harry stared at the little baby in his arms with a look of absolute wonder.

Finally he looked up and met the eyes of his family before he sat down and said, "She's, she's wonderful."

James, Lily and Minerva all nodded, and there wasn't a dry eye among them. James and Lily had never expected to be able to see any grandchildren they might have had, while Minerva was just happy to see Harry achieve one of the things that he had always wanted, a family of his own. She was startled when Harry rose and held out baby Tamsin to her saying softly, "Want to hold her Minerva?"

The witch gently took the little girl from the arms of her father and held her, for a few minutes before handing her back to Harry. Harry then let James and Lily each have a chance to hold her before he gave her back to Ginny. A few minutes later the baby began to cry, signaling that she was hungry so Ginny, helped by Lily, began to feed her.

A dazed looking Harry wandered out of the room and collided with Mace and Obi-Wan who had come to see the new arrival just as they had promised. Behind them was Anakin and Padme, who had been informed by Damien of where Harry was.

"It's a girl" Harry said with a goofy grin and Anakin let out a soft whoop of delight. Damien came running down the hall at that moment, having got up and had breakfast before coming to see what had happened with Ginny. He and the other Jedi softly exclaimed over the new arrival before Lily pushed them all out so that Ginny and Tamsin could rest. Harry was led back to his apartment by Damien who practically pushed Harry down at the table and pushed a plate of food in front of him. Harry ate mechanically and once he was finished, a bit more awareness came into his eyes and he looked sharply at his apprentice.

"Thank you Damien, I sort of zoned out there. Sorry for ignoring you before." Damien shook his head with a soft smile. "Nothing to be sorry for Master, I'm just as excited as you are. I don't get to see babies very often so this was a big deal for me too. Um, will she be living with us?" Harry shrugged. "I don't know Damien and her name is Tamsin. Would you mind if she did?"

Damien shrugged as well before replying, "No. I'd like to have a little sister around but I thought she'd be living in the crèche with the other babies."

"Not until she can be fed with a bottle I think" Harry murmured. Shaking off the last of his fatherhood induced shock he turned his thoughts towards Damien. He still had a responsibility to him, even if all he wanted to do at the moment was sit and stare at his new daughter.

Damien waved a hand in front of his master's face and said, "Hey, anyone home in there?" Harry laughed. "Yes there is imp, have you finished that homework you had to do after the mission?" Receiving a nod from the Padawan he smiled and said, "Well, seeing as you don't have classes today, you can have a day off. No training today, unless you want to be included in the delights of baby care."

He was amused when Damien shook his head. "I'll watch Master, and just get to know her from a distance I think. Babies make me uncomfortable."

"Why?" was the question from Harry. Damien shrugged. "They're so small that I'm afraid of dropping them. Why do you think I avoid visiting the crèche at every opportunity?"

Harry laughed and then had a quick shower before coming out dressed in a fresh uniform. Placing a gentle hand on Damien's shoulder he said cheerfully, "Well, no time like the present to get over that fear Padawan, and what better way than by practicing. I won't let you drop her and once you have your hands in the right position then it's quite easy. Come on."

Damien spent the rest of the day with Harry in the infirmary learning to not be afraid of his new "little sister." A steady stream of visitors seemed to come in and out all day, most congratulating the new parents. There were some of the older Jedi Masters that disapproved but a group of Harry's friends among the Knights and Masters quickly saw those Jedi off the premises. Qui-Gon also dropped by, and smiled when Tamsin seemed to like him holding her. Damien then nervously sat down on one of the other beds in the room, with a pillow on his lap. Harry sat down next to him and put Tamsin on the pillow, showing the Padawan how to support her so she didn't fall off or anything. Damien's exclamation of "She's so soft" brought amused smiles to the faces of the adults, and there were many photos taken of the cute moment between the two.

That night, the new family fell asleep very happily. Harry smiled as he made a silent vow to himself that he would never let any harm come to his family. That smile widened as he saw a vision of his little girl all grown up, with Damien beside her, and two other young people that Harry thought might be Anakin's children, on her other side. He rolled over and the vision was lost as he slipped further into sleep. He would not have slept so easily if he had known of plans being made in other areas of Coruscant, plans that would throw his family, and the entire galaxy, into jeopardy.

Author Note

Hi everyone. Thank you for all the reviews you've been writing, it really helps to know that people like this series. In case you're wondering how Ginny could give birth now, when she and Padme told Harry and Anakin that they were pregnant at the same time the answer is simple. Ginny was about a month and a half pregnant when Harry chose Damien as his apprentice, while Padme was only a few weeks pregnant. Therefore, Padme still has another month to month and a half to go. No flaming over the timelines please, I had enough of a headache figuring out the rough one as it is.

May the Force be with you

Padawan Lynne