Disclaimer: After what happened in the last chapter, plenty of things have changed from the original universes, but I don't own either Starwars or Harry Potter. Just felt like I had to say it, even though you all know that since you're on and all.

Chapter Twelve

Storm

Two years later, the CIS had degraded into roving bands of marauding pirates. When they combined together to make an effort against the Republic, they still posed a viable threat, but whenever a sizable force engaged them, the Separatists would flee and be pushed from almost every given system. The Banking clan had surrendered within a year, as did several low contribution allies who had supported the CIS. General Grievous was still at large and though the Jedi still fell to his armies, the Separatists continued to lose more and more with each battle.

Harry had tried to watch the war from a distance once his cloning project started. Slowly feeding the Republic fleets with elements from his Jedi clones as well as monitoring the number of unprogramed Order Sixty-six clones that might turn against the Jedi. He established several more safeguards to protect the Jedi Order when the Republic attacked the Temple, having put in place multiple Order temples across the galaxy under the Fidelus with only those within his inner circle as the secret keepers. A confrontation with Darth Sidious was fast approaching.

Sirius was nearly three and he was already being taught to control the Force as well as limited control of his magic, as were his near-cousin, twin counterparts, Luke and Leia Skywalker. The three were normally kept on Dantooine and away from the war effort, shielding them from the expectations of the Order and what might be expected when they got older.

Harry believed his wife was more radiant than ever, never hesitating to show her. Both Potters tried their best to remain in the shadows, operating outside the Order and the Republic. However, to keep out of trouble, they would allow themselve to be seen at least once a month in the outer-rim in compliance with the Senate orders. Anakin Skywalker remained close to home during the first two years of his children's lives, watching and caring for them while assisting in the training of the clones. Padme Skywalker remained with the Senate, doing what little she could to fight the policies the Chancellor continued to push through, giving himself more power over the galaxy citing that the war was very active and he refused to turn power over without ensuring the safety of the galaxy.

General Obi-wan Kenobi, became recognized as the head of the Republic army, remaining on the front lines to substitute for Anakin's absenses while he remained on Dantooine with Luke and Leia. Leading a brutal campaign against the Separatists, Obi-wan liberated systems and retook worlds that had pledged allegiance to the Separatists while Dooku had been alive.

Assisting him on the outer rim, Master Ulundi and Jedi Knight Barriss Offree aided in hunting down General Grievous and the few Sith Acolytes that remained in the galaxy.

x x x

"I see you have returned to Coruscant, Master Potter." Palpatine looked up in surprise at the intrusion to his office but put on a welcoming face for the Jedi, "What brings you back to the capital? You've been off on some secret Jedi mission for so long, I was beginning to believe you'd both been killled."

Harry grimaced at the sarcasm in the Chancellors voice but put on a pleasant face, "Chancellor Palpatine, we both realized that we were needed back on Coruscant. Besides, we haven't neglected your executive order in keeping the Jedi on the front lines. Granted we were both caring for our son, and would have to alternate who was home and who wasn't. But we were still fighting the good fight, for the Republic."

"Of course, Master Jedi. How is your boy? Strong as his parents no doubt."

"He is exceptionally gifted." Ginny nodded, "We're actually here with a report from Kamino. They're saying that without the war, they're shutting down their facilities. And with the disappearance of the original host, they are disinclined to continue production."

"Do you know what our current strength is, Chancellor?" Harry asked, "From my understanding, we're still recruiting tens of thousands to the Republic armies and the system defense fleets."

Palpatine hesitated, "We're seriously understrength for the whole galaxy, Master Potter. We'll need to send a delegation to convince the cloners on Kamino to keep their facilities open. I'm sure we'll be able to find suitable candidates for clone subjects."

"I was under the impression all of the emergency powers would be laid aside once the war was over and you'd be stepping down?" Ginny smirked already knowing the answer.

"I assure you that once this insurrection is done, I will give up my emergency powers. But we cannot disband our army without ensuring the security of the Republic."

"I'm sure you intend to do that, but who decides when enough is enough? You?" Ginny laughed, "Who right now could tell you that your time is over and you need to step down?"

"What are you talking about?" Palpatine growled, "if the Senate were to decide that the war was over then..."

"So if I displayed a list of nearly one half of the Senate, you'd agree with their decision and call for a vote to a new Chancellor?" Harry asked.

"That is how the system works, Master Potter." the annoyance directed at the Potters was beginning to crack his carefully constructed facade.

"Just so we're clear," Ginny kept her annoying smirk visible, "The people and senators asking you to step aside aren't traitors of the Republic because as you said, 'That's how the system works'."

"Every Senator is a representative of their people, Master Jedi, if they wish to speak out against me, they are certainly welcome to do so, peacefully." Palpatine took a deep breath, "Now, I have important matters of the Republic to attend to, if you'll excuse me."

Both Potters nodded and left for the Temple, "He almost cracked there." Harry remarked as Ginny took the driver's seat of their speeder.

"He did. He seemed very concerned about Sirius. I'm glad he agreed to stay behind this time." Ginny shuddered, "the way he asked about him, I'm glad we're keeping him on Dantooine."

Harry's eye flared with power as he thought about Palpatine going after Sirius, "He'ill be dead before he tried anything against our son."

They sped into the Temple area and saw two Jedi waiting for them, along with six security clones in brown armor and blasters drawn.

"Welcome back to Coruscant, Master Potter."

"Master Shaak Ti," Harry greeted, "And your padawan?"

Shaak Ti shook her head, "You remember Ahsoka Tano, right?"

"Ahsoka!" Ginny's face broke into a grin, "I didn't recognize you. I thought you were on the rim with Kenobi."

The younger Jedi grinned back, "I came back here for my Knighting ceremony.

Harry looked behind them and saw a team of clones waiting for them, "Captain?"

The ranked clone stepped forward and deactivated her visor, "Captain Rowell, First Jedi Temple Defense Corps. An honor to see you again, sir. We have an update from General Kenobi concerning the Separatists."

Harry nodded and then turned back to the other Jedi, "Master Ti, if you would excuse me? Ginny?"

She nodded and waited for Harry to leave, "It's been a while since we were back here. I didn't miss how busy everything was though."

"While I was on the rim with Tano, Master Ulundi and Knight Offree told me about the alternate training you put her through. Ahsoka has also said she had similar training." Shaak Ti began, "I had asked for a demonstration and both Offree and Tano displayed some amazing and unbelievable powers in a friendly duel. I've also seen some of the clones display some of this as well."

"You're talking about our Magic." Ginny smiled, "Offree is a very powerful witch and with her power through the Force, well, she's given me a run for my money in several sparing matches. Harry certainly taught her well."

Ahsoka grinned at the thought of her friend, Barriss, losing, "It'd be refreshing to see her lose one for a change. I've continued to study what you gave me, Master Potter, but with the war, it has been difficult."

"I understand. And what about you, Master Ti?" Ginny looked at the Jedi Master questioningly.

"It was suggested that I talk with you about training in such matters."

Ginny nodded and the there women began to walk out of the hanger, "We can teach you to use more than the Force, however, there is a large difference in several of the teachings of the wizarding Jedi and the Order."

"Could you help explain it better, Master Potter?"

"Please, call me Ginny. Harry is the 'Master' though he prefers Harry, most of the time." they continued and she began to explain.

x x x

"What's the report, Captain?" Harry asked as they entered the refurbished control room with the Temple where several clones were monitoring different stations.

"General Kenobi was in pursuit of Grievous, but after arriving at the system where he was expected, he found the entire Separatist fleet." Harry frowned as the clone continued, "Before Kenobi could engage however, the fleet jumped. Their direction indicated the core worlds."

"Is Kenobi in pursuit?"

"Yes, sir." Rowell answered, "Unfortunately, one of the few possible routes that they're taking is here. Coruscant."

"Alert all commands. Contact Master Skywalker and get his fleet back as well as any off world Jedi in range. Instruct him to keep his fleet cloaked until Kenobi arrives."

"Sir?"

"Once Grievous reveals himself, I want Kenobi and Skywalker to take a team aboard the ship and kill Grievous."

"Yes, sir." the officer snapped off a salute and was about to relay the orders.

"Also, Captain?" "Sir?" "Get the Corp activated. I want an additional thousand to the temple from Safehaven."

"Yes, sir."

Harry grinned to himself, with two thousand of his clones guarding the Temple, the Sith would have a hard time moving the Republic troops against the Temple without heavy casualties. Harry's men would certainly be able to buy the majority of the Order enough time to escape. The light at the end of the tunnel was very bright, Anakin needed to be here to confront Sidious once he revealed his hand.

x x x

"Anakin? What are you doing here? I thought you were at headquarters?" Obi-wan glanced outside his cockpit and saw his good friend grinning back from his own star fighter.

"Oh, you know me, Obi-wan. Couldn't sit out the last fight." Anakin smirked.

"I have a Knight strike squad with me and we're planning to board Grievous' ship."

"Then the eight of us are going to get Grievous, because I have my own strike squad." Anakin spun between two droid fighters, hitting one with a blast of lasers.

One of the three Knights with him picked off the other and the eight fighters formed up and dove towards Grievous' capital ship. Kanobi's fleet was already systematically ripping through the Separatist fleet as they tried to hold their ground long enough for Grievous to escape. Next to them, a CIS frigate began to explode and topple towards the planet, burning and ripping apart from the inside.

Anakin snapped off a shot at a fighter and watched it blow up, "Grievous' ship is dead ahead."

"You mean the one crawling with Vulture Droids?"

"It's also the one retreating."

"Grievous always did run from a fair fight."

"You duel with him yet?"

"Offree did, almost got him too. He also has the blood of fifteen Jedi personally."

The Vulture droids out in front of them began to launch from the capital ship and powered towards the approaching Jedi, "Here comes the fun."

Obi-wan frowned at his friend's enthusiasm but did not have time to answer as his forward shields flared from the incoming enemy fire. All eight fighters returned fire and several droids were vaporized, "Red leader, this is Three. I've lost lateral power. I'm forwarding my pickup coordinates to the surface."

Kenobi frowned, "Understood, three. I'm notifying Threshhold."

"Red leader?" Anakin's voice asked, a little amusement in his voice, as they avoided another wave of enemy fighters.

Obi-wan finished relaying the message up to Ulundi's ship, "You can think of all the insults you want Anakin, but you might want to take down those hanger shields. You are in front."

"Oh, right." Anakin flipped his ship over and locked onto the shield regulators of the main hanger and fired, "Stay tight, this is going to be close!"

He squeezed the trigger and ripped apart the regulators causing the main doors to begin sealing itself. All seven fighters made it inside and Anakin ejected himself from his ship. He landed and engaged his lightsaber, cutting down a pair of droids before throwing their pieces into their companions. The rest of his team joined the battle and by the time Red team had landed, the droids were all destroyed.

"Anakin! Grievous is on the bridge. Have Artoo download the map. Two and Four, stay with the ships."

"Yes, sir."

Both Knights disillusioned themselves and prepared for a counter attack while the other five followed Artoo's directions towards the bridge.

The rolling sound of Federation Destroyers echoed down the hall and Anakin put himself in front of Artoo. The other three Knights opened fire with their wands and one of the droids took a bludgeoning hex before the other three setup their shields. Anakin drew his wand, deflecting lasers with his lightsaber before transforming the ground into quicksand.

Each droid began to sink into the floor, distorting their shields enough for the other knights to get several destructive curses through, destroying them. Anakin solidified the floor and look up to see a squad of Super Battle droids firing at them.

Lightsabers and a shield sprang to life, deflecting most of the fire while the third Knight clone drew his blaster and returned fire. His shots were accurate and with the combination of the spell work from another Knight, the squad was easily wiped out.

"He's trying to stall us. Anakin, you and I will keep going with Artoo. Sergeant..."

"Sergeant Reese, sir."

"Sergeant Reese, take your team on an alternate route to the bridge. Be as creative as you want to draw them after you."

Anakin nodded, "Let's go."

They encountered several more squads of droids before they reached the command deck where the droid general was waiting for them.

"General Kenobi, we've been expecting you." Grievous coughed hoarsely as four of his elite guard stepped towards them, "And General Skywalker? A most welcome surprise."

"The Separatists are finished, Grievous. Your fleet has lost and you have no where left to run." Anakin answered calmly and glanced behind him as Sergeant Reese and one other Knight came up.

Grievous laughed, "Your clones are no match for my guards, Kenobi. Kill them!"

Anakin ignited his lightsaber and drew his wand. Battle droids opened fire but the Knights were fast with their shields. Obi-wan focused on two of the guards and with a Force pull, he yanked one into his lightsaber, ducking its counter attack before slicing it down the center.

The other Knights moved against Grievous and the three dueled between the consoles and the few droids trying to keep the ship in space. Grievous landed a kick on Reese and knocked him back before impaling the other clone with a second lightsaber.

Anakin dispatched another guard and as the Knight fell, Anakin threw a bone breaker curse at Grievous, snapping one of the droid's legs and crippling the General. Anakin was forced back by the other guard while Reese renewed his attack on the General.

The Guard's staff knocked Anakin back again, but he carried the momentum further and opened with a distracting low level barrage of of spells. Stunners, bludgeoners and reductors struck the droid in an unrelenting onslaught that brought the droid to the ground in pieces. He looked over at Kenobi who had just finished the last guard and they turned to where Reese was standing off with a furious Grievous.

"It's over, Grievous!" Kenobi called out and the three Jedi surrounded him.

"If you kill me now, you'll never know where Chancellor Palpatine is."

"You're bluffing." Anakin risked a glance at Obi-wan who was currently staring down Grievous.

"Can you really risk it, Skywalker?" Grievous inched closer to the exit, limping heavily on the broken limb. He still had two light sabers drawn but the Jedi knew they could easily take him.

"Artoo, plug in and find the Chancellor." Anakin called out, "Reese, cover him."

The Knight complied and waited for the astromech to sift through the databanks, "Looks like we found him." Anakin smirked.

"Red two, Red four, the Chancellor is being held on the observation deck. We have Grievous cornered. Free Palpatine and get back to the hanger." Obi-wan relayed to his team and received a confirmation from the other two Knights.

"Artoo, signal the fleet. Inform them who's aboard. This ship needs to be..." Anakin was cut off as Grievous attacked him. His blue lightsaber blocked both of Grievous', locking both blades with his own and augmented his strength through the force. He took his left hand off his lightsaber and fired a wandless reductor into the general's good leg.

The spell hit and Grievous was thrown back a meter before Anakin reached out through the Force, gripped him and threw him hard against the wall. Grievous tried to hit Anakin again, but the Jedi ducked under the attack and swung a well timed backhand at Grievous' head.

Obi-wan cautiously walked over to the fallen droid and nudged the body with his foot, "Nice job, Anakin. Though we were trying to capture him."

Anakin shrugged, "Harry took out Dooku and Ginny took care of Ventress. So I figured Grievous was mine. Besides, you tried to get him to surrender like fifty times."

"Artoo, can you shut down the ship and send out an all clear to our fleet. I'd rather not get blown up by our own." Obi-wan glanced over at Anakin's droid who whistled in apprehension.

"I'd imagine most of the main defense fleet is loyal to Palpatine," Anakin remarked, "It's probably how he was able to arrange for his abduction."

"Quite convenient. I might add." Obi-wan smirked.

"What do you mean?"

"Harry and Ginny confronted him today about how the war is practically over, minus Grievous and hours later, Grievous attacks Coruscant with a fleet that until today has been scattered and unorganized."

"It would explain how Grievous was in and out without the Jedi realizing he had the Chancellor." Anakin nodded.

"Red leader, this is Red two."

Obi-wan took out his communicator, "Go ahead."

"We have the Chancellor and we're headed to the hanger."

"Understood, two. We'll meet you there."

"Two out."

"Come on, Anakin. Let's get our esteemed leader back to the surface before he parades himself a martyr."