Note: Thank you all for your reviews! This chapter was almost complete when I posted the first one, a result of my first edit to check for organization. As I'm writing this, I don't think it has too much left before it, too, is ready to post.

Text in *stars* is excerpted from The Empire Strikes Back, by Donald F. Glutt. Harry's knowledge of the Jedi Code comes from the Star Wars RPG rulebook, 2nd ed. 1993. The other version of the code didn't show up until much later, and there's no way for Harry to have read it. He may come up with it on his own later, but for now, that's what we're going with.

Chapter Two

Harry would have smiled at Mrs. Figg's ranting and her attack of the very shady Fletcher, if the situation wasn't so dire. Fletcher's magical signature was one of the ones that had been watching him at the Dursleys', but apparently making money was more important to him. He found himself rather agreeing with Mrs. Figg, but at least the no-account would be able to alert Dumbledore of the problem.

Dudley was starting to warm up a bit, but he kept looking at Harry, like he'd never seen him before. Feelings of amazement and confusion were rolling off of him, because Harry had surprised him by defending him from the Dementors. Harry knew Dudley wouldn't have done the same, so it had thrown him for a loop.

Once they had reached the door to number four, Dudley and Harry went in. Harry said, "We need chocolate, just a little. It'll help with the cold and sadness the Dementors leave behind."

Dudley frowned but nodded. "They say chocolate has stuff in it that make you happy, so I guess that makes sense." He looked around, and since his parents weren't in the sitting room, he went over to the sofa and dug out a hidden bag of small chocolate bars, handing one to Harry and eating two of them himself while grabbing a third.

Harry nodded and said, "Thanks, Big D." He unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth, just in time for Aunt Petunia to see as she came around the corner from the kitchen.

She shrieked, "What is going on here? What are you doing with that? If Dudley can't have any sweets, then—"

"Mum, I did eat some. And Potter did me a good turn. There was some things at the park that tried to eat us, and he killed 'em!"

Now it was Harry's turn to be surprised. Dudley defending him? That was definitely a first! And it shocked Petunia and Vernon, who had come out of the kitchen when she shouted, as well. "Something tried to eat you?"

Harry nodded. "Our souls, yes. Now they can't hurt anyone else ever again."

An owl flew in the window, quickly dropping a note onto the coffee table and flying right back out again. Harry quickly picked it up and read it while Vernon griped about the bird being in his house. It was from Remus Lupin, and it said, Harry, we heard about the attack. Don't leave the house and don't do any more magic! Most importantly, do NOT give your wand to anyone from the Ministry if they show up there! Can't say anything else in a letter, but someone will be in touch shortly. ~ Moony

Harry nodded to himself as he gave the note to Vernon to read. It all made sense. The Ministry wanted him out of the way, which he knew from the smear job they were doing in the Daily Prophet. What better way to make sure that happened than to get him to use magic outside of school? His use of the Patronus charm during his third year at Hogwarts was well known, as well, and they had no way of knowing that he could do something about the Dementors without a wand. But if they couldn't detect wandless magic, he'd be okay.

Dudley also read the note, and he asked, "What Ministry, and why would they take your wand?"

"The Ministry of Magic," he answered distractedly. "The current Minister doesn't like me, and he's probably trying to get me expelled for using magic outside of school."

"But you did it to save me!"

Harry shook his head, smiling a little, and said, "They won't care, Dud."

Now Petunia and Vernon were frowning. Vernon said, "What the devil is going on with your—your sort?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?"

Petunia groused, "We should know if things from your world are going to be trying to kill us, don't you think?"

"Oh definitely. It's just that you never did before. But alright. The man who killed my parents is back. His followers kidnapped me at the end of last school year and used my blood in a ritual to bring him back to full strength. The Minister refuses to believe me, because a tabloid reporter has been making me out to be some kind of lunatic, and he thinks Headmaster Dumbledore is trying to take his job. Basically, they're doing the bad guy's work for him, and as far as I can tell, he's letting them while he gets organized." Harry shook his head. "It's really rather ridiculous."

Vernon grumped, "Well I agree with that bit, anyway. Do you really expect us to believe—"

At that moment, another owl flew in the window, landing next to Harry. This one said, No notice seems to have come to the Ministry. Someone will be there in the morning to discuss. Be seeing you. It was again signed by Lupin.

This note made Vernon scowl and start to turn purple. "Another freak in my house!"

Harry tried to reassure him. "Lupin is one of the most sensible wizards I've ever met, and he knows how to dress Muggle. At most, he'll look like a salesman or a charity collector." He turned to Dudley. "How're you feeling? Better?"

"Yeah." Harry smiled and turned to go upstairs, to get a shower, but Dudley said, "Hey, Potter?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." And he held out his hand for Harry to shake. It was a little thing, and in no way did it make up for everything Dudley had put him through over the years. But it was a sincere start.

Astounded, and not a little touched, Harry shook the offered hand, and said, "No problem."

The next day, a polite knock came to the front door of number four, followed by a shout from Vernon. "Boy! Get down here!" Harry was already dressed and ready for the day, so he hurried down to the ground floor.

Standing there in the entry way was Remus Lupin. Harry grinned to see him, but he still opened his senses to ensure that the man was who he appeared to be. He felt the worry underneath the calm exterior, and below all of it the sleeping predator. But he felt no malice, nor the influence of another mind, and he was satisfied. "Hello, Professor."

Lupin snorted. "I'm not your professor anymore, Harry."

"I know. Well, how about a spot of tea? I'll go put on the kettle. Would you mind checking on Dudley, Professor? I don't know how Dementors affect Muggles." Then he left the sitting room to do as he said he would before Lupin could call him on the honorific again.

The older wizard shook his head, smiling. "Imp." Then he turned to the Dursleys. "Where is the lad. I'll give him a once over, just out of an abundance of caution, but generally speaking, Dementors don't have any greater effect on Muggles than on wizards. He was given chocolate after his exposure?"

Vernon huffed. "Are you telling me that the boy was telling us the truth? That there are actual soul-sucking demons out there, just roaming around, and normal folk can't even see them?"

Lupin nodded. "Nearly all of that was correct. But they're not just roaming about. They're supposed to be under the control of the Ministry, and never leave Azkaban Prison unless they are ordered to do so by Ministry officials. Either we had a case of two gone rogue, they have switched allegiance to Voldemort, or someone in the Ministry actually sent them after Harry. Unfortunately, the greatest likelihood is that someone loyal to Minister Fudge is responsible for this. If Voldemort had taken control of the Dementors, he would have broken all of his loyal followers out of Azkaban prison, and that has not happened yet." Harry didn't miss the "yet", but he filed it away for later.

Lupin sat down as Harry reappeared with the tea. Taking the cup and saucer from him, and taking a quick sip, he then continued. "Thank you, Harry. You see, Mr. Dursley, Harry has a well-known sensitivity to Dementors. They bring to mind a person's worst memories just by proximity, and ultimately their desire is to consume the very soul of their victim. Harry, who has seen true horrors in his life, feels their effects much more keenly than the average teenager. To combat them, I taught him the Patronus Charm, and he's very good at it. But using it outside of school should have alerted the Ministry. We're not sure why it has not."

At that moment, Dudley came downstairs into the sitting room. Seeing their visitor, he said, "Hello."

Giving the adults a chance to absorb the information he'd just given them, Lupin turned his attention to their son. "Ah! So, this must be Dudley. I'll just have a quick look at your aura, if that's alright, just to make sure you've come to no permanent harm through yesterday's adventure."

Dudley looked at his parents, then asked, "Will it hurt?" He swung his hands toward his bum out of reflex, no doubt remembering the last time someone used magic on him, which was Hagrid giving him a pig's tail.

Lupin shook his head. "Oh, not at all. You won't feel a thing. Now stand still. I'm going to run my wand over you in a specific pattern and say a few words, and that'll be all." He proceeded to do exactly that, and a colorful nimbus of light surrounded Dudley's form. It was dominated by a rich brown color, but with a little blue here and there around the edges, and a very small center of bright green.

While this was happening, Harry was watching with the magical senses he'd been learning how to use, and what he saw surprised him. The green bit hadn't been even as big as that when he'd first seen it. It was Dudley's magical core. But knowing the Dursleys as he did, he said nothing, resolving to ask Lupin at another time. Somehow, he didn't think Dudley was suddenly going to start having accidental magic, but it was just as obvious that something was happening to him.

Meanwhile, Lupin said, "There's only a very little damage, and that looks like it's healing. You might eat at least a little more chocolate, but everything should resolve on its own. You'll be just fine."

Dudley nodded. "That's a relief." He turned to his parents. "Can we go out for dinner, Dad?"

Vernon clapped him on the shoulder. "Of course, Dudley. We'll go to Smutherton's. Potter, you will not blow up this house while we are gone!"

Harry didn't argue, didn't get mad. He was determined not to let the adult Dursleys ruin his progress toward becoming a Jedi. Instead, he turned to Lupin. "I've got a couple of homework questions. Could you come upstairs to my room and have a look?" He willed Lupin to realize he wanted to talk about magical things where they wouldn't be overheard.

Lupin looked at him sideways, but nodded. "Of course."

Once in Harry's room, he sat on the bed, offering the only chair to Lupin. The full moon was a week ago, so he was fully recovered from his transformation, but he appreciated the seat none the less. "What did you need help with?"

Harry pulled out his makeshift sword and the Star Wars Trilogy book Hermione had gifted him, along with the other books he'd been using. He showed Lupin the Trilogy first. "This is fiction, of course, but it gave me ideas. Do you know the story?"

Lupin looked at it. "Yes, I actually saw the films." Then it clicked. "You're trying to use magic like a Jedi uses the Force?"

Harry nodded vigorously. "I'm trying to figure out how to replicate everything that was taught to Luke Skywalker. I'm trying to become a Jedi." He showed him all of the books he'd been working from and outlined the training he'd been putting himself through. "When the Demetors came after us in the park, I was still in this mindset, still listening to the magic, just as a Jedi listens to the Force. It's gotten easier over the last couple of weeks to maintain that, and I'm sure it will eventually become second nature. I pulled this," indicating the Muggle broomstick, "instead of my wand, and I said, 'gladius patronum', casting like I would have 'expecto patronum'. It turned it into a lightsaber. It was white, made out of Patronus stuff wrapped around the broomstick. And it sliced right through the Dementors!" He shook his head, a little troubled. "I killed them, Remus."

Immediately discerning the cause of Harry's worry, he said, "You defended yourself, Harry. That is all anyone can be expected to do. When you can, you should try and reason with people, solve problems without violence. I'm sure that's a great part of the path you are trying to take; to seek peace rather than conflict. But when reason cannot be found, and with a Dementor it most assuredly cannot, you must still defend yourself and others." He looked at the sword, and at the image of Prongs that had been burned into it. "Your parents would be very proud of you, you know."

"You think so?" Harry looked hopefully at his former teacher.

Lupin grinned. "Absolutely."

After promising that he would be brought to join himself and his friends within a week, Lupin left the Dursleys' house. Harry opened the Trilogy again to "The Empire Strikes Back", to the parts about Luke's Jedi training under Yoda on Dagobah. Luke had gotten angry at how long it was taking him to succeed, knowing that his friends needed him, and tried to continue his training while angry.

*"No, no," the Jedi Master scolded, shaking his hoary head. "This will not do. Anger is what you feel."

"But I feel the Force!" Luke protested vehemently.

"Anger, anger, fear, aggression!" Yoda warned. "The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow...quick to join in a fight. Beware, beware, beware of them. A heavy price is paid for the power they bring."

Luke lowered his sword and stared at Yoda in confusion. "Price?" he asked. "What do you mean?"

"The dark side beckons," Yoda said dramatically. "But if once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will...as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice."

Luke nodded. He knew who Yoda meant. "Lord Vader," he said. After he thought for a moment, Luke asked, "Is the dark side stronger?"

"No, no. Easier, quicker, more seductive."

"But how am I to know the good side from the bad?" he asked, puzzled.

"You will know," Yoda answered. "When you are at peace...calm, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge. Never for attack."*

Harry nodded to himself. Knowledge, and defense, never attack. He decided that he should be writing some of this stuff down, and he pulled out the blank leather journal he had ordered along with his book on Occlumency. Sitting at his desk, he pulled out a quill and a bottle of ink, then on the first page he wrote, Harry Potter, On the Force of Magic. Then on the first blank page he began writing his observations about magic from the perspective of a Jedi. After all, Yoda's last command to Luke was to pass on what he had learned. Harry would need to do the same. He'd start with observations, then organize them into a book. The Force, which others call magic, is an energy field, likely the energy which makes life possible. There are many methods of wielding this Force; wizardry, witchcraft, sorcery, ritual, druidism, shamanism, and many others. The method which will be discussed in this treatise will be called the Way of the Force, or Jedism. A Jedi is a force for good, wielding magic for the purpose of gaining knowledge, peace, and mastery of self. Jedi may be protectors, teachers, ambassadors. They must always use their power to use the Force to do what they feel is right, and they must be shown what is right before being allowed to wield it publicly.

The end of the week couldn't come quickly enough for Harry, and he had to remind himself to be patient. He was excited to see his friends again, and to learn what was being done about Voldemort and the Ministry. Lupin had advised him not to leave the house, but Harry told him that it was his routine to go to the park every day and he had no intention of changing that routine. He told him, "I will not allow the actions of terrorists to dictate my life. Besides," he said with a smile, "it's not like I have to go about unarmed now, is it?" Lupin had grinned at him and complimented his courage. He did receive a letter from Hermione written in Aurebesh, and he was delighted to learn that, because it was a script and not a language, translation spells had no effect on it. If Dumbledore was leading some kind of resistance against Voldemort, having a written script that no pureblood wizard could read could only be beneficial.

He debated starting over with the book he was writing, writing it in Aurebesh, as well, but he decided against it. Not only would it waste the money he had spent on the leather book, but he didn't plan on keeping the information to himself. Even though he was trying to become a Jedi for reasons that involved Voldemort, they weren't his only reasons. Using magic in this way could be learned by anyone who was willing to put in the work it required, and he had this admittedly ambitious plan, little more than a few thoughts at this point, to start his own school.

On the night of the sixth of August, Friday, the Dursleys left the house for dinner again, having been informed that Harry's escort back to the wizarding world would be arriving on that night and wanting nothing to do with them. And as he'd suspected, not five minutes after he heard the car leave, there were voices coming from the kitchen. He wanted to be sure, though, so he crept quietly down the stairs, wand holstered and hand on the grip of his sword. Yes, he was expecting someone to come, but he had rather expected them to announce themselves. Best to be cautious.

There in the kitchen we're several adult wizards. Lupin he recognized as well as Mad-Eye Moody. But there were several other Wizards who he did not recognize. Worried that something has gone seriously wrong, Harry drew his wand, aiming it at Moody. The grumpy old Auror said, "Put that thing away boy before you put someone's eye out."

Lupin, knowing Harry would recognize more than just his physical appearance, reassured his former student. "It's alright, Harry. The numbers are for your security."

Nodding, Harry asked, "Are we expecting trouble?"

Moody snorted. "Always anticipate trouble, whether you're expecting it or not. CONSTANT VIGILANCE! It'll save you, like as not."

"Sound strategy, but not what I asked."

The old Auror grinned. "Indeed not. There's not been any particular threat received, but you're a high-value target, and as you're more aware than most, one cannot dismiss the possibility of betrayal."

Acknowledging the point with a single nod, Harry changed the subject. "I've packed my trunk. How're we going?"

Lupin answered him, "By broomstick." He pointed at a vibrant young woman with pink spikey hair. Harry recognized her aura as one of the people who had been guarding the house. "This is Tonks. She'll be able to lighten your trunk for you and help you tie it to your broom."

The trip into London was exhilarating for Harry, as he always had loved flying his broom. But that didn't mean he wasn't careful to mind his surroundings, both with his eyes and with his mind, just as Moody wanted.

When they arrived on a quiet Muggle street, Harry was surprised to sense the spell that was hiding the house, and honestly, that worried him. Any wizard who wanted could learn how to listen to their own magical senses as he had. But had they? He would have to ask Hermione. He wanted to ask her anyway if there had been others in wizarding history who had tried something similar to the Jedi Order. If anyone would have that kind of information, it would be her.

Moody handed him a slip of paper written in a familiar handwriting. It said, The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is located at number twelve Grimauld Place. Harry already had his senses wide open, and when he processed the information, he felt the spell covering the house reach out and touch him. Then it let his physical senses catch up with physical reality, which his brain interpreted as the house appearing from between number eleven and number thirteen.

Lupin led the group into the house, warning them before entering to be quiet. Once past the door, Harry was able to feel quite a lot more, as the wards which protected the house were no longer blocking him. Parts of it felt like they had been steeped in sewage. Others were far more neutral, and most of the presences within the house were quite light. One, however, was absolutely insane, and the light touch of his magic against that presence repulsed him. It was coming from behind a massive portrait hidden behind black velvet curtains. The presence was sleeping, and he softly withdrew his senses from it so as not to wake it.

Mrs. Weasley came from a door down the corridor, past a large staircase. She greeted him happily with a hug and warned him to be quiet. Then she told the rest that the meeting was about to begin and went to usher Harry up the stairs (with the other children went unsaid). But Remus shook his head. "Dumbledore wanted to hear about the Dementors from his perspective."

"He can ask him after the meeting then!" Mrs. Weasley quietly snapped.

Harry sensed an old argument about to flare up. "I'll go and see what the Headmaster wants," he said, hugging Mrs. Weasley to prevent her from feeling as if he were being disrespectful, but not giving in to the fear that she was broadcasting about this meeting. Randomly, he thought that he would need to learn how to filter the information he was getting from the Force so that only the truly important got through.

Entering the kitchen, Harry saw several people that he recognized and many that he didn't. Along with Professor Dumbledore, Professors Snape and McGonagall were there, as were Sirius Black, Bill Weasley, and Arthur Weasley. Harry recognized Mungdungus Fletcher simply from having met him earlier when Mrs. Figg attacked him with her purse. He nodded to the room and took a seat on a stool along the wall next to the hearth so that he was out of the way as those who had been behind him came into the room and found their seats.

Professor Dumbledore noticed him, but said nothing to him, instead addressing the entire room. "Welcome everyone. Remus, were there any complications?"

"No, it went quite smoothly."

"Good. Severus, your report, please?"

The dour man stood and turned to face the room. He spared a sneer for Harry but left it at that. "The Dark Lord has placed several Death Eaters into key Ministry positions. None of them are important positions, per say, but they are strategically placed so that they may listen for information and rumors. He also has at least three people on the staff of the Prophet doing the same, and he intends to send envoys to the Goblins this week. Greyback has promised him the cooperation of his packs." Remus growled quietly at that, and Harry sensed deep anger from his old teacher. "He was aware that Potter was being moved this week, but he is under the impression that it will be tomorrow rather than today."

Dumbledore asked, "Will this compromise you?"

"No. I have every intention of blaming Potter for the change."

The Headmaster nodded. "Very well. Harry, please tell us what happened with the Dementors, in your own words, please."

Harry bowed slightly. "Yes, sir. I was in the park in Little Whinging. I had finished my usual workout and was practicing meditation, when my cousin and his friends came into the park. The other boys left soon enough, and when it was just me and Dudley I felt the Dementors coming. It took a bit to get Dudley to run since he couldn't see what he was running from. There were two of them, and I was able to get rid of them. We were lucky."

"How, Harry?" asked Dumbledore. "How did you get rid of them?"

But Harry was listening to the Force, feeling the room, and there was someone who did not belong, someone who was quiet, hiding, and invisible. "I think I should keep that close, sir, though I'm willing to tell you in private."

Dumbledore blinked, then looked him straight in the eyes, and Harry suddenly felt a mind pressing against his own. Harry pictured a cartoon mouse blowing a raspberry at the Headmaster, then averted his gaze. It would not be enough to counter a full-on attack, but it would the kind of simple scan Dumbledore was so rudely attempting. The old man nodded, then said, "Very well. Whatever it was, the Ministry has not cottoned on, and the Dementors went missing after their attack on you and your cousin. Current thought here and within the Ministry is that they went rogue for some reason." He returned his attention to the rest of the Order. "The other item being guarded has not yet had an attempt made against it, but we will remain vigilant. Bill Weasley, how go our recruitment efforts with the Goblins?"

The redhead had longer hair than most of his family and a wolf-fang earring on one ear. "King Ragnok has become very anti-wizard lately thanks to the Dark Lord's recruitment methods. He won't even see me, and my messages have been coming back undelivered."

Dumbledore nodded, saddened but not surprised. "I understand, but please continue to try. Did anyone else have anything which needed to be said?" When no one said anything, the meeting broke up, and Harry went to where the Headmaster was standing. "Why—"

Harry put a finger to his lips, signaling quiet. Very quietly, once he was in hearing range of the Headmaster, he said, "Someone invisible has been listening to this meeting."

Moody had joined them, as well, and whispered, "It's that blasted elf. Something's going to have to be done about him."

Dumbledore seemed surprised but nodded again. "Understood," he whispered. Then more loudly, he said, "Sirius, over here, if you please."

Harry grinned, quite ready to see his godfather once again. The man approached them, his long black hair brushing his back as he walked. "Hello, Harry. Glad you could finally join us." He gave Harry a swift hug, then stood back to look at him. "Well, you certainly look better than the last time I saw you."

A smile gracing his lips as he watched the interaction, Dumbledore said, "Yes, we all are. Sirius, we may have a problem. It's Kreacher."

"Well, you won't let me kill him or give him clothes, and his insane devotion to my mother ensures he will never like anyone I bring in here," the man grumped. "Eavesdropping on the meeting, was he?"

"Yes."

"Kreacher!"

Thanks for the reviews, folks. I've got several different irons in the fire, but that doesn't mean I'm not working. Hope you'll enjoy this latest chapter of the rewrite.