Disclaimer: Couldn't think of something creative this time. I don't own either Starwars or Harry Potter. Yeah, I had to say it again.

Chapter Five
Investigations

Two Jedi star fighters unlocked from their hyperdrive rings and shot forward towards the water planet below, "I'm picking up a city down there, above the water."

"Yeah, I have it too."

They continued their path, hoping to land discreetly enough to begin investigating the area, "I'm picking up a landing platform, Obi-wan."

"I see it. Following your trajectory, Harry. Just make sure there's room enough for both our fighters."

"Of course." Harry grinned and his chuckle echoed through the comm, "Good thing we didn't take the Marauder. Doesn't look like there would be enough room."

His reference was to the freighter Ginny had won in a gambling game four years ago. Harry did not remember exactly what she would have lost if the cards had not been in her favor, but after renaming it, Ginny and Anakin had taken it upon themselves to remodel and upgrade everything, until it was barely recognizable as the original ship that she had acquired.

As Harry thought quickly of the ship and realized that Ginny was currently flying it to Naboo where Padme had agreed to return to in light of the thwarted assassination attempt, fidelus charm or not.
That left Harry and Obi-wan to track down the bounty hunter, which had led them to Kamino, a planet hidden from the main Jedi archives and one that had only been identified by a contact from Kenobi.

"I'm down, plenty of room for you, Kenobi." Harry said and watched the fighter of his friend circle the pad once and then settle quickly in the pouring rain. Sighing in defeat as he knew that he would have to brave the storm, he popped the fighter canopy and after activating the ship's security system, before following Obi-wan through the only visible entrance.

It opened to reveal a tall, long necked, grey-skinned alien, welcoming them as if they had been expected. Harry was immediately on guard as the alien continued to prattle about how they were surprised the Jedi had taken so long to return and view the order made. They arrived at the Prime Minister's office who was very forth coming with information, declaring that two hundred thousand units were ready and another million were well on the way.

"Did you ever meet with him personally, this Jedi?" Harry asked as he saw Obi-wan was still processing this information, "As a member of the Council, I can verify the Order has no idea or record of this transaction."

"We have already been paid, Master Jedi." the Prime Minister answered, "Even if you have no recollection of this army, it is for the Republic whenever it is needed."

"That's Convenient." Harry frowned, "Where's this bounty hunter that you used, Jango was his name?"

"Yes, he is here with an unaltered clone, Boba." Lama Su, the alien that had originally greeted them, answered, "We can introduce him."

"We would very much like to meet him." Obi-wan smiled politely, having regain his oral functions.

x x x

After a quick tour of the clone army, Harry told Obi-wan to notify the council while he went to talk with Jango. The trip was quick and Harry extended his hand to the man, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Jango."

"Never met a Jedi. Can't say we really work on the same side of course."

"I understand your hesitancy." Harry relaxed his grip while evaluating the warrior standing before him. It was obvious Jango was on edge and Harry sensed that this was the same man who had killed Zam, "Based on your reputation, you're probably very picky on your contracts. After all, a Mandelorian is a very rare find."

Jango frowned, "What makes you think I'm a Mandalorian?"

"Your armor is very unique. I've seen them in the archives of the Republic and the Jedi Order and the resemblance is uncanny." Harry could feel the man tense even more and Harry raised his hands defensively and to show they were empty, "I'm not here to hurt you or your son. I'm here for answers."

"Answers usually cost Credits." Jango did not relax and instead muttered something in Mandalorian to Boba, who had been watching the exchange carefully.

"You're right." Harry nodded and pulled out some credits, though it was only a hundred, "I'd pay more, but I know you were paid well recently and money isn't really the issue for you. You're testing my intentions and I want to say again, that I have no intention of harming either yourself or your son."

"What makes you think I was paid?"

"Your armor's dirty and I highly doubt you wouldn't get paid up front at least some portion of your contract. Noticed it before Boba close the closet." Harry smirked, "Now, you were hired to kill Amidala and I want to know who hired you."

Jango laughed, "Even if I were hired to do that, I wouldn't reveal my clients."

"Of course." Harry leaned back against the wall, mirroring Jango's posture as he also leaned back in the chair he was sitting in, "Understand something, I'm not threatening you, Jango. Amidala is my wife's closest friend and a dear friend to myself as well. Please, cancel your contract with this and let me know who is behind it."

Jango hesitated, hearing a sincerity in Harry's voice that he was not used to dealing with, as well as hearing the underlying tone. He was conflicted, most of his jobs were rarely assassinations because he never enjoyed that type of work, they lacked the honor of Mandalore. This contract had come from the same man who had hired him for the clones and had felt compelled to work the contract. That had been the reason he had subcontracted the assassination to Zam, "I can't tell you, Jedi. I was compelled to accept this job for reasons that are my own. The pay was very good, so in the end, I accepted. I can sense the honor behind your request and because you're not threatening me or my son, I will recommend something that might help. Try hunting down an old friend from ten years ago."

Harry frowned, "An old friend?" Ten years ago had been the fighting on Naboo, when Ginny and himself had first come into the Galaxy. It had been a fight against the Trade Federation and the leader had been...Nute Gunray...everything now made sense. The Trade Federation was still a powerful force to be reckoned with and Harry realized that Gunray still probably held the grudge against Padme for the sound defeat she had dealt him, "I'm sorry for taking up your time, Jango. You and your son are not going to be bothered by myself or the Jedi, I shall report your assistance to the Council to ensure my word is carried out. I understand your reasons for not being as forthcoming about the contract, but you have you and yours to look after. Be careful in your future dealings and may the Force be with you."
Harry quickly left the apartment and making sure nobody was looking, he apparated to the landing pad where Obi-wan was closing the connection to the Council. He jumped in surprise at the slight pop and his lightsaber ignited, "Oh! It's you."

Harry laughed, "Of course it's me, you dolt! I know who hired him!"

"We have orders to bring him in."

Harry shook his head, "I'm countering that order. Nute Gunray is behind this and Jango was more or less caught up in a business that's taken him in over his head. He's looking after his own and I can sense that there has been plenty of manipulation that brought him into this whole ordeal. We're dealing with the Sith and Gunray. Fett and I'm betting that even the Clones are a part of this conspiracy."

"Gunray?"

"He does have a grudge against Amidala." Harry nodded, "And he can bank the credits to hire, Fett."

"So what now?"

"We follow him."

"What?"

"Jango is going to wherever Gunray is hiding to explain what happened and that the Jedi are asking questions. We track them there, and find Gunray. If we're lucky, we might find the one responsible for this mess."

"When you put it like that, it sounds easy." Obi-wan laughed, "Now can we wait inside our ships? It's still raining."

The Jedi entered their ships respectively, Harry instructing him to wake him once Jango's ship lifted off and then closed his eyes for a refreshing nap.

x x x

Ginny was enjoying herself on Naboo. The trip over had been pleasant enough, her and Padme being able to talk privately while Anakin piloted the Marauder. She reflected how much had happened in the ten years since they had 'died' on earth. Several battles, skirmishes, had been fought and won, though nothing was even close to what she expected the Galactic war they had been warned about would be.
It was only the matter of time and she was realizing that everything was about to fall into place.

Rumors of planets turning from the republic and joining Count Dooku and what was becoming termed the 'Separatists' abounded. However, no official declaration of succession had been given but she could sense that time approaching.

Something Ginny had discovered in her study of the Force had been Jedi Meditation. She found that sitting for hours and searching the Force for clues on what was happening in the galaxy was soothing for her own curiosity and for her own stress levels. Yoda had taught her mostly, and it had come in addition to several other standard Force abilities she had developed.

Her main talent was the mediation and she noticed that after being around Palpatine she was able to spot lies and deceit within his promises and his words. She was powerful in the mind arts as well as the two light sabers that she had constructed.

Despite warnings against it, Harry and Ginny had studied the Dark side of the Force, needing to know and understand the enemy they were planning to fight, though they refused both themselves and Anakin from practicing in exchange for access to the Jedi archives. Ginny had been animate about Anakin learning about it, claiming that making something taboo gave it more of an appeal and those who turned were usually too curious about it until it was too late to turn back.

Right now though, she was listening to Anakin and Padme as they enjoyed each others company. It was almost dinner and Ginny had called them inside to sit and eat the meal she had prepared.

"Anakin! Padme! Dinner!" Ginny shouted and brought the last of the meal from the kitchen.

There was a chatter of voices and Ginny smiled as Anakin pulled out Padme's chair, a gentleman taught by both Harry and herself, "Did you two have fun today?" she smiled at the boy knowingly.

"We ran into a herd of Shaak after lunch." Anakin answered, "One tried to run me over, but..."

"Only because you insisted on trying to ride it." Padme laughed, "You had me worried! Faking injury like that after it had just trampled you!"

"Trampled you?" Ginny frowned, "You said..."

"So I left that part and that I started it out." Anakin waved off Ginny's glare and in turn, playfully glared at the brunette across from him, "Thanks for that by the way."

"Well you didn't exactly win me over this afternoon." Padme huffed, "Anakin believes that the Chancellor, Palpatine or not, should be more strong in his decisions. IF the Senate disagrees then they should be made to agree."

Ginny sighed, "Yeah, a big problem with the squabbling of the Republic. However, Palpatine must not gain any more control of the Senate. The system is flawed by the politicians, present company excluded, of course. Palpatine is going to be the death of the Jedi is he continues to increase his power."

"Why the Jedi?" Anakin frowned. Ginny had deliberately kept Anakin from staying in contact with the Chancellor, depite Palpatine's attempted influences to the contrary. Ginny believed that Palpatine was planning something that had to do with Anakin and it was not going to benefit the galaxy.

"You haven't been there to see his manipulations, Anakin. Everything he does draws Senate support away from the Jedi." Ginny continued to explain, "He's working to push the Jedi into a negative light. He's been extremely subtle about it, but he certainly isn't keeping the interests of the Order." She was about to continue when a mirror in her pocket vibrated, "Hang on, Harry Potter."

"Ginny! You still on Naboo?"

"Yeah, just talking a little politics with the Anakin and Padme."

Harry laughed and called out to the others, "Hey Anakin, Padme." they answered in kind before he looked back at Ginny, "We found Kamino and quite a bit else. The bounty hunter is Jango Fett."

"Fett?" Ginny knew that name.

"Yeah, you met him about six years ago during that..."

Ginny cut him off, "Yes, I did. Didn't strike me as the assassination type."

"He's not. That's why he hired Zam to finish it. Apparently, he was more or less coerced into it by somebody in league with...you ready? Nute Gunray."

"No way!" Ginny frowned, "He's still around?"

"Yeah. Now he didn't come out and say Gunray, but Jango hinted that we knew him from ten years ago."

"Sounds like he still has a grudge."

Padme had stopped eating and was listening to the report, "There's a rumor that he's allying with Dooku and the Separatists."

Harry nodded and looked thoughtful, "Yeah, I heard something like that too. We're going to track Fett and find Gunray. If you're right about the Separatists, this might be more than we can handle. We are just going to scout it out for now, if we can take Gunray, we will."

"Be careful, Harry. We'll be waiting for your word to come get you two."

"Understood, Gin. Love you!"

"I love you too, Harry."

The connection closed and Padme smiled, "I wish I could love that easily."

She glanced over at Anakin who immediately flushed from the comment. Deciding to push past the awkward silence, Ginny said, "I'm going to bed early tonight. Don't stay up too late."

Ginny left the two alone, hoping something would happen. The tension between the two was thence enough to cut with a knife. They reminded her of Ron and Hermione, though Padme and Anakin never fought like her brother and sister-in-law. It was destined to happen for Anakin, the question was, what would the council think.