Disclaimer: Yeah yeah yeah, I don't own Potter or Starwars. Though this AU is entirely my own creation.

Chapter Thirteen

Deception

"Excellent work, Master Skywalker." Palpatine admonished, "Defeating Grievous puts us another step closer to finally ending this war."

Anakin steeled his emotions against the poisoning praise, "Thank you, Chancellor. With their main leadership dead, we can deploy the fleet across the outer rim and hunt down the last of the CIS."

"It's a lot more complicated than that." Palpatine shook his head before changing the subject without elaborating, "So with this defeat you'll be getting your Master rank? I mean, killing Grievous wasn't even something Master Kenobi could do in the two years hunting him."

Anakin smiled inwardly at Palpatine's approach, buttering him up with praise and title, he was glad that Harry had humbled him years ago during his training, "It's up to the Council concerning my rank, Chancellor. As well as Ginny Potter."

"Why Potter? I understood her husband was your Master." Palpatine spat Potter's name drawing another inward smirk from the boy.

"Harry certainly trained me quite a bit. But Ginny has been there for every aspect of my training. She wasn't just there for that, she also took me in and instructed me on who I should become. I'd give my life for her and Harry."

Palpatine was able to mask his distaste for the Potters by the time Anakin was done talking. Dooku was not supposed to have died by Potter's hand and too many of his plans had already been disrupted to know if the boy would be turned or not. Since the Second battle of Kamino, the Jedi seemed to have distanced themselves from the war despite his attempts in ordering them to fight, several exceptions being Obi-wan and the several dozen Jedi on the outer rim. It was as if they were preparing something themselves, Palpatine just had not seen what it was.

He had three million clones himself under his command, but he was still unsure if the Jedi would fall without himself or an apprentice of his choosing to lead the assault. Anakin was the most powerful of the Jedi and Palpatine needed him either out of the way or on his side, "I need you on the Council, Anakin. I don't know if I can trust the other Jedi. If you can be there, I'll know they won't dare plot against the Republic."

"You think the Jedi would turn on the Republic?" Anakin asked. Ginny had warned him before the meeting that the man would try and plant a seed of distrust against the Jedi and if he had not been aware of it, Anakin could not imagine how obvious the Chancellor was being.

"It was the main reason to put you as liaison to my office, Anakin. To spy on me. Potter was there to watch you and me. I've tried to be reasonable with the Council, Anakin, but they continue to defy my orders and the will of the Senate. They are trying to get the Senate to turn against me. I fear they have been trying to include you with their plot." his voice turned desperate, "That's why I need you, Anakin. You're the only one I can trust of the Jedi."

"You barely know me." Anakin answered cautiously.

"I've watched your time with the Jedi. You're powerful Anakin and they fear you. You're different from them and they hate you for it, they don't trust you. That's why they hold you back. It's why they don't promote you to Master, it's because they wouldn't be able to control you and your power. Just like they couldn't control the one who was supposed to be your Master."

"What?"

"Master Qui-gon was too powerful for them to control, Anakin." Palpatine continued, "He was supposed to train you until he was killed by that supposed Sith apprentice."

"Are you telling me the Council ordered somebody to kill him?"

"It makes sense. They recognized Qui-gon wouldn't be controlled, like his former master, Dooku. Both Dooku and Qui-gon realized that there's no Sith, only power. The Jedi don't want to lose control and only Dooku was able to leave before the Jedi could get to him."

Anakin hesitated to answer, thinking about the possibility that it could have been orchestrated like that, "Then they're set to betray myself and the Potters?"

"The Potters are part of it. They've been a part of the Jedi conspiracy for a long time. They were probably the ones to kill Qui-gon and once your power was discovered, they came into the spotlight, regaling us with a ridiculous story about another galaxy and their magic." Palpatine overemphasized 'magic' and risked a glance at Anakin, "I need your help, to keep the Galaxy, our Republic, safe from the Jedi. For your children's sake, Anakin. We can protect them from losing their father to the Council. Accept my position on the Council."

Anakin grinned at the Chancellor, "Very well, I shall notify them immediately."

x x x

Harry was holding his side as the laughter overtook him, "He actually tried to imply that the Council had Qui-gon killed? And that Gin and I were the ones who did it?"

Anakin chuckled, "He implied that you and Ginny were in on it because you both sensed my power and wanted to train me to control me."

"Lies are the way of the Sith." Yoda drew the mood back to the matter, "Close to the rank of master you are, young Skywalker, understand this do you?"

"Of course, Master Yoda." Anakin nodded, "I wouldn't have taken this position except now I have Palpatine's trust. He's going to reveal himself soon, I can feel it."

"Be wary. Desperate the Sith has become. Dead his apprentices are." Yoda straightened himself as Mace directed Anakin to one of the chairs, "More aggressive, the droid armies have become. Since the fall of Grievous, a new General they have."

Harry frowned, "The Separatists are getting desperate then. At least they're coming out instead of hiding and dragging this on."

Anakin nodded, "Palpatine tried to convince me to talk you into sending me. Claiming that you wouldn't send me because you don't trust me."

Harry laughed, "We won't send you because of you close position with Palpatine."

"Oh, I know. Besides, Padme would prefer me to remain out of the fight. Not that I wouldn't love to bash some droids out on the rim." Anakin added quickly as he saw Harry mouth, 'whipped'.

"Good relations with the wookies, I have. Go with Master Ulundi and her battle group, I will."

"Master Secura, our intel suggests that a Separatist faction is hidden Fellucia. Take a group there to investigate. Be careful, Order sixty-six may be given while you're out on assignment." Mace nodded in her direction, "Master Mundi is still on Mygeeto fighting the dug in droids there. Kenobi, on your way out to your sector, would you be able to reinforce his position?"

"I can deploy five hundred Knights to assist him. That will leave me with fifteen hundred Knights and ten thousand clones."

"Do you know their loyalty?"

Kenobi shook his head, "Based on our estimates, about forty percent have Order sixty-six."

"Be mindful of their intentions, all of you." Windu looked at the Jedi sitting around him, "Potter, what do you and your wife plan to do?"

"Ginny is returning to headquarters. She'll be taking Padme and our children to a hidden location once Padme is done in the Senate. We can take a lift of padawans of apprentices there in preparation of Order sixty-six, since the younglings are already there."

"You're not going to hide your children at the academy?" Obi-wan frowned.

"With Palpatine about to make his play, there isn't anywhere associated with the Jedi that is really safe. We'll probably stay on the ship in orbit until Palpatine makes his move." Harry continued.

"Ginny won't be happy sitting this one out." Anakin chuckled.

"Not really. She missed most of the war because of Sirius." Harry ran a hand through his hair, "She understands our son is important and both of us would rather spend time with him instead of fight. What about Padme?"

"She's working on a proposal to force Palpatine to step down. Organa, Bel Iblis and Mothma, all senators are working with her on it. However, I don't believe the Senate will vote against the Chancellor. He controls too many of them for any real changes to be made that he wouldn't want."

"Then once Palpatine shows his hand, we'll have to move fast." Harry looked around, "Are we all positive going after Palpatine is the right thing? If we fail and Palpatine convenes the Senate afterwards, the Jedi will be outlaws of the Republic."

"That is why we cannot fail." Mace answered, the other council members agreeing.

x x x

"Ginny, where are we supposed to go?" Padme was slowly packing her clothes as well as the twins.

It was the next day and they were all in the Skywalker apartment on Coruscant, hidden under a Fidellus charm, "I can't tell you yet, Padme. You trust me right?"

"Of course I trust you, Ginny." the young senator smiled at her friend, "But this bill in the Senate is too important for me to leave right now. Palpatine must step down before the Jedi take matters into their own hands."

"And I agree that it must be done." Ginny nodded, glancing into the other room, making sure the three children were all right and under the watchful eye of C3PO, "You have to understand that if anything happened to you, Anakin would be crushed. It's something Palpatine wants to happen to lure him to the Sith. We can't let that happen."

"Will you go with me to the Senate next week when they convene? You've been my body guard before."

"Who will watch the children?"

"Anakin and Harry, of course." Padme laughed, "If the vote goes bad, we return here and we all leave immediately."

Ginny thought about it for a second, "Very well, but you're telling Anakin."

x x x

From her seat behind the Senator's box, Ginny watched as Padme explained and argued the facts of how the Separatists were no longer a threat. She continued to tell them how with the threat removed, it was time to return the Senate back to the way it was before the emergency powers had been given to the Chancellor as well as vote for a new leader.

There were plenty of counter arguments as predicted. Padme stood her ground even with the more powerful planets protesting her argument. Several strong allies, Bail Organa of Aldaraan, Mon Mothma of Chandrila, and Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia, all three bearing witness to the corruption of Palpatine.

Ginny watched the Chancellor for the most part and she could tell the underlying rage of seeing Skywalker trying to sway the Senate to replace him. It was as if he was making a mental list of the Senators who were agreeing with her and was going to ensure some met up with accidents when the vote failed. And two hours later, the vote failed.

Padme was quiet after the vote was cast. There were very few Senators who had openly supported her, and some who remained hidden in fear of Palpatine's response to their opposition.

"You were right, Ginny." Padme sighed finally, as they neared their speeder to take them back to the apartment, "I should have waited longer."

"If you'd have waited, Palpatine would think himself more invincible than he is." Ginny put a hand on Padme's shoulder, "Wait, there's something wrong." she drew her wand and was about to mutter a reveal spell on the speeder when it exploded.

Instead she threw up a shield out of reflex and tackled Padme to the ground. As they hit, she apparated away, holding tightly to her friend. By the time the crews arrived to help, the few witnesses of the explosion believed both had been killed in the blast, either vaporized or thrown off the deck.

x x x

The Temple was the first to receive word that both Ginny and Padme had been killed in a speeder bomb. Mace Windu saw the message and knew that Harry would need to be notified as well as break the news to Anakin. Both tasks he was sorely wishing Yoda was around to do.

x x x

Ginny reappeared in their apartment, holding a shell shocked Padme, "Ginny!"

She looked up to see Harry running towards her, Anakin right behind him, "Padme!"

"What happened?" Harry asked, helping his wife up, while Anakin was pulling Padme to her feet and embracing her tightly.

"Car bomb, after the vote." Ginny was breathing heavily and threw herself into Harry's arms, "I barely got a shield up in time."

"Anakin, how's Padme?"

He nodded in appreciation of the question, "She's recovering."

"I can't believe somebody would go to such lengths." Padme managed, "The Separatists were not responsible, there's no possible way!"

"It's how Palpatine and the Sith work." Harry answered.

A knock broke their conversation, Ginny drawing her wand again while Padme shied away from the door and into the other room.

Harry drew his lightsaber, "Who is it?"

"It's Mace! We need to talk!"

Harry opened the door, "Hurry, before somebody sees."

"I know you only wanted a Jedi to come here if it's an emergency." Mace began, "There was a car bomb outside the senate, both Ginny and Padme were...the targets."

"That's a relief." Harry answered, Mace's mouth dropping in shock.

"I tell you your wife is dead, and you say it's a relief?"

"Well," Harry chuckled, "Where's a camera, damn it."

"Our deaths were very exaggerated." Ginny said, walking into the room.

Mace stared open mouth for another second before closing it with a very heavy sigh, "Here I've been debating how to control you two from rushing Palpatine and killing him."

"Oh, we're still going to do that." Harry laughed, "Wait, he thinks they're dead? Anakin, this is a perfect opening."

"What?" Anakin frowned.

"Pretend like Padme really is dead. Play up the grief until he's practically begging you to let him help."

"Palpatine! The Jedi have killed her! They insisted she get you out of office for them and when she failed, they killed her!" Ginny dramatically played out.

Her falsetto voice got them all to laugh, Mace included as the tension broke, "After he reveals that he's a Sith, pretend you're all of the sudden unsure. Show anger that he was the Sith all along and you're not sure about going that far yet."

Anakin smirked, "Shouldn't be too hard. He was so desperate the last time, I could feel it."

"Just remember, she's still alive, Anakin." Harry pointed out.

Padme grabbed Anakin and pulled him in for a breathtaking kiss, "You won't forget now, will you?" Anakin shook his head, speechless, "Good, I'm planning on a nice vacation after all this is over, just you and me."