Shadow of the Force

Chapter 22

-Marcus-

"Cockroach Cluster." Marcus spoke firmly to the Gargoyle that stood watch outside Dumbledore's office, the stone construct rising into the stairwell without hesitation. As he got closer he could hear the sounds of heated debate coming from inside. He could hear Dumbledore, Minister Bones, Shacklebolt, along with a few others. Gulping nervously now that he'd be giving his idea in front of so many, Marcus rapped his knuckles against the door, the voices going silent in an instant.

"Enter." Dumbledore's authoritative voice commanded as the door swung open, letting Marcus see the group assembled, "Ah, young Marcus. Come to borrow another tome?" Dumbledore gave him a polite friendly smile even if Marcus could see the stress in the man's eyes.

"Actually, I…uh…I had an idea about the Chamber issue." Marcus admitted, rubbing the back of his head, "You said if anyone had any thoughts to bring them to you?"

"That we did young man." Dumbledore gave him a gentle smile and sent a firm look to the other adults as if warning them not to make any comments, "So what idea do you have for me?"

"And what even gave you this 'idea' in the first place?" one of the experts that got called in asked condescendingly before gulping as Dumbledore gave them a glare.

"I was in the Common room when I overheard some of my classmates theorizing on who the heir is." Marcus figured he might as well explain why he had this idea, "One of them was quite smug about 'any Death Eaters not getting of with the Imperio ruse' now that Minister Bones is in charge." He could see the red haired minister puff up a bit at that.

"And your idea?" Dumbledore urged.

"Well, if this is Salazar Slytherin's chamber it's probably sealed by Parsletongue. Parsletongue is just snake language so can't you just use Imperio on some actual snakes and command them to keep saying 'Open' while going around the school?" You could hear a pin drop in the room as the adults took in his admittedly unorthodox suggestion.

"That…could actually work." One of the creature experts blinked as they considered it, "We'd have to figure out where to look though." Marcus looked up at the various portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses that spent most of their time asleep.

"Would any of them know?" He asked pointing to the portraits, many of whom he hadn't seen awake at any point he'd ever visited.

"The portraits?" an auror he vaguely remembered being name Dawlish asked in dismissive incredulity.

"They see things and a lot of people don't both hiding from a portrait." Marcus shrugged as Dumbledore tapped his wand against a bell on his desk, the various portraits all jolting awake from the magic item.

"I hope you have a good reason for waking us up Albus." One of the stuffier looking portraits huffed.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been Opened." Dumbledore didn't waste a moment as the portraits all suddenly straightened up seriously, "Three students, two aurors, and a cat have already been petrified and the 'heir' has threatened much worse should the school be evacuated."

"Mandrake Draught?" a stern older woman asked.

"Being worked on, but it's such an obscure rarely used potion none of the potion shops had a ready-made supply." Dumbledore frowned displeased, "I was hoping one of you might have some clue as to where the Chamber was."

"I remember during Phineas' tenure here there was a student who apparently found Salazar's Scriptorium." A woman spoke up.

"Oh? And where was that Headmistress Fitzgerald?" Dumbledore's eyes bore an eager spark at a potential clue.

"Not far from the Slytherin Common Room, just down the hall from the Slytherin Girl's room." The woman, Headmistress Fitzgerald, answered.

"That's the bathroom where young Myrtle was killed the last time!" another Headmaster spoke up, his portrait looking newer than the others, "I remember students referring to that place as 'Slytherin's Sinks' given a snake engraved onto one of the taps."

"…It can't be that simple." Shacklebolt shook his head baffled.

"It just might be." Dumbledore nodded seriously before turning to Fawkes "Fawkes, please contact Alastor and tell him to go check that area with his eye please." Marcus vaguely remembered having seen the famous auror having been combing over different areas of the massive castle with his magic eye over the past few weeks. The sheer number of secret tunnels and magic in the walls having made that a slow going process.

"For now Marcus, you are to return to your common room." Dumbledore ordered him as Marcus quickly turned to go, hearing the creature experts discussing an order with Minister Bones to put out a 'conscription order on all Roosters in the Hogwarts Region'.

-Palpatine-

Reclining in his throne, Palpatine steepled his fingers, gazing down at the two potential 'apprentices' who knelt before him. "Speak." His single word conveyed every ounce of his authority as the two shuddered from his presence in the force. Good, they should remain fearful of him.

"I obeyed your orders Master," The Grand Inquisitor spoke before Jade could, the redhead sending a hate filled glare at her new rival "I found a group of Imperial Officers planning to defect and join the Traitor Anakin Skywalker." Palpatine smirked in amusement at the man refusing to use Skywalker's Sith name, "I've given orders to have the ships they commanded to be kept under close watch."

"Excellent." He nodded, hiding his amusement at Jade seething, "And you?" he looked to his hand who perked up at getting the chance to show her 'value'.

"I tracked down and killed any member of the 'nobility' who showed any hint of potentially joining the traitor's false empire." Jade smirked as Palpatine nodded, considering the facts.

"You have both done well with this first task." He nodded pleased, "As it stands, I have one more test to determine who shall become my apprentice." He tapped a button on his throne's holo screen as files were sent to the two, "I sent you a list of targets. They are all to be captured alive and functional."

"Function Master?" the two looked confused at what he meant, Palpatine's sinister grin growing wider.

"I have seen several examples proving that force users are more likely to have children strong in the force. More proof of the foolishness of that feeble Jedi order. That list consists of female Jedi who haven't been confirmed dead. They are to be captured and used to 'ensure a new population' of force users for my Inquisitorial legion." Before either of them could respond about such an order, an officer ran panting into the room, Palpatine recognizing him as a member of his intelligence corp.

"Emperor," the man panted, having clearly run here at full speed "one of the rebel factions…they're attacking Mandalore!"

-Harry-

"Forward!" Harry roared, the troops at his back echoing the shout as ships battled overhead. Throughout the capital city, he could hear the sounds of blaster fire and explosions. The moment his siege had begun in earnest the hidden resistance on Mandalore, along with everyone else who saw it as a golden opportunity, had jumped aboard. The Imperial forces were attacked on all sides by seasoned rebels and regular citizens tired of living under the Regime.

Smoke rose from the various crashed star ships that littered the planet, new ones occasionally exploding far overhead. Every time an Imperial ship detonated and began to crash, his men let out a resounding cheer. The fact that the Citadel remained clearly visible overhead as it withstood the fire from the Imperial ships was only further helping the motivation of his troops.

"What are the odds of the Emperor having a stroke trying to figure that out my love?" Oola laughed as she marched into battle right alongside him, her Light-Whip lashing out and slicing through the imperials that kept trying to charge him. The Stormtroopers were far from an impressive force and he had a feeling it was only fear, the Dark Side of the Force, and sheer numbers that kept the Empire in power.

"You know we aren't that lucky Oola." Harry laughed, even as he transfigured a stormtrooper into an explosive barrel that was easily hurled at a fortified wall.

Far ahead, yet another Imperial occupation ship suffered an explosion and began its descent thanks to Dobby. Being able to apparate into those places, with the help of a bubble head charm for oxygen, and then back out was quite useful in these situations. Magic wasn't a known force in this galaxy so there wasn't any sort of ways to counter it. Or at least none that have been developed so far. He wasn't sure if the Force could do anything to counter or protect against spells.

That was something to think about later. For now though, he thrust out his hand, commanding the force into a pure concussive shockwave that tore the gates from their hinges.

"Moff Gideon!" Harry used Sonorous, his voice echoing "Come out and face me! Coward! Murderer! I challenge you for Mandalore!" he'd looked up the customs of the warrior culture of this planet in preparation for this. Didn't want to have any locals or returning Mandalorians trying to have him killed on principle after all.

Cutting the charm, he looked at Oola "Surround the palace with the rest of our forces and make sure he doesn't escape my love."

"Only if you promise to come back to me safe." Oola gave him a hard look before stealing a kiss and taking the troops to follow his orders.

Grinning wildly at getting a kiss from his fiancé, Harry readied his sabers as he made his way through the gate, cutting down every Stormtrooper that charged his way.

The Force guided his steps, the question of each turn answered before he even reached them. Moff Gideon had murdered millions on this planet alone. The Force that resonated here wished for him to die, to pay for his crimes. The force wanted Harry to win.

It was no surprise when he heard the sound of the Darksaber screaming towards him from behind. Moff Gideon wasn't a warrior, he was a politician and a schemer. He kept the Darksaber as a trophy and didn't have the experience to use it the way the legendary blade was meant to be. Especially not against an experienced fighter like Harry.

"A surprise attack?" Harry scoffed, "How very un-Mandalorian." Yet another reason why the locals had been so quick to join his assault.

"I prefer victory over paltry things like 'honor'." Gideon scoffed, "FIRE!" The sound of blasters igniting behind him while Gideon raised stolen Baskar as a shield filled the hall.

"Draconifors!" Harry waved his hand, the rubble littering the hall being transfigured into dragons that swarmed the now screaming stormtroopers, Gideon staring in wide eyed horror.

"W-what are you?" the Moff scrambled back, shakily holding the Darksaber out in between them.

"Me?" Harry smirked as he readied his two black lightsabers "I'm the fucking Mandalore."