AN: Alright everybody, this story is set to wrap up in the next few chapters so I'm putting up a poll for what story is going to replace this one in the 'updated every post until it's completed'. I have three stories that are either short or in their final acts so the poll options will be between those three (and the remaining two will be the ones to follow it). This poll is only going to be up for a week or two so vote if you care what replaces 'Shadow of the Force'.

Shadow of the Force

Chapter 36

-Harry-

Sitting alone in a room set aside for Meditation, Harry worked to calm his breathing as 'The Citadel' hurtled through space, the rest of the Mandalorian Fleet and their allies moving with him. Slowly rising into the air, Harry closed his eyes to open himself up to the Force. He hoped for a sign, a hint, a clue, anything that might help their forces survive the coming battle and win.

He could feel the beating of his heart pounding like a war drum.

THUMP

He could feel the pressure of his position on his mind, the old idiom 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown' coming to mind.

THUMP

He could feel the lives of every man and woman under his command, the trust they placed in him.

THUMP

He felt…the Force.

Gasping, he opened his eyes to find where he was, was not where he'd been. He floated in the void of space, the presence of the Force wrapping around him, communing with him more directly than it ever had before.

"W-what?" Harry gasped, trying to figure out what was going on.

In response the Force seemed to shift around him, mirages appearing in the void of the Death Star, of his Fleet, and of his people. Finally, he saw a copy of the War Table from back on Mandalore appear.

"You're…trying to help me?" he blinked, having not expected such direct assistance or answers from the usually enigmatic force.

They showed a vision of Palpatine, and he could feel the Force's disdain for the man. For the Sith Lord who perverted the Force as well as the Galaxy. The Force wanted him gone, to stop abusing the powers he had been given. But he could also feel a sense of urgency from the Force.

"What else is there I need to know?" Harry narrowed his eyes as the Force felt like it was 'sighing' for lack of a better word. The war table in front of him distorted, the surface rippling before clearing to show a view of his old world. He staggered back in surprise, but the table moved to always stay in his view as he saw what had happened after he left.

He saw how Voldemort had stated that he, Harry, was the true 'Boy-Who-Lived' and how everyone had taken this.

His parents' continual denials of reality and Dumbledore trying to fix the situation as best he could.

He saw Remus and Sirius breaking down before dragging themselves back out of their slump for Marcus, to help him.

He saw his brother grow from this, trying to become a better person than he'd been, and Harry felt a feeling of pride for the little brother he hadn't thought of in so long.

Then he saw Tonks, and saw her growing fixation on him. The ritual she was trying to prepare, and how the Force had been doing what it could to sabotage her. But in that world, the Force's influence was minimal. Harry had been the first to be born with a true connection, even of others had the start of one, their children liable to be true Force users in the future.

As he continued to watch, the Force pressed that it could not hold of Tonk's efforts forever, and that she would soon finish the Ritual. That the most they could do was delay as long as possible and sabotage a single bit so others could come back with him if they so chose.

He was just seeing a glimpse of his brother entering a maze when he felt a hand on his shoulder, jolting him from the meditation as the void faded around him.

"Harry, are you alright?" Oola and Leia were there, their expressions concerned as he panted, his shirt drenched with sweat from the intense meditation.

"The Force…it spoke to me." He panted, brushing his hair out of his face, "I've never felt it be so direct before." He got to his feet, squeezing their hands "We need to hail the other ships…there's something that everyone needs to know."

-Barty Crouch Jr.-

At the sound of the canon Blast, Marcus Potter took off running into the maze. The kid was fast and fit at the very least, but would only be tiring himself out before meeting the Dark Lord at this rate.

Staying near the front, hidden under an invisibility cloak and Winky's House Elf Magic, Barty waited for the other 'Champions' to enter the Maze. They were so focused on each other and the threats they could see, they weren't prepared for threats that they couldn't.

A vanished bit of hedge letting a group of Acromantula flank Diggory and the Hufflepuff pretty boy had to send up the sparks and be rescued by the Hogwarts elves.

Sealing the path behind him left Krum facing the Sphinx and unable to answer the riddle, once again needing to be saved.

For Delacour he used a few illusions to guide her to be stuck facing Hagrid's 'Skrewts' which her magic and fire did nothing against. The stupid French Bint had to beg for assistance and be saved, leaving only Potter left in the maze.

The boy was good, surprisingly good for his age. It wouldn't matter once the boy reached the cup though. Once he saw Potter reach the clearing with the cup he'd already enchanted, he had Winky apparate them out through the wards, back to his Master.

-Marcus-

With a hard impact, Marcus slammed into the ground, the Tri-Wizard cup flying from his hand as the surprise Portkey ended. Before he could even register where he was or what was going on, a silent body bind curse slammed into him from behind as he toppled over.

"Excellent Barty!" a rasping hissing voice that he was painfully familiar, both from his first year and his nightmares "And not a single spare to get in the way."

"I live to please, my Master." a new figure spoke, stepping into view from behind Marcus, clearly the one who'd cursed him. At the manic man's side was a small Elf, clearly scared but making no effort to run or leave.

"Begin…the ritual." Voldemort, as there was no one else that could be, commanded the figure named 'Barty'.

"Yes," Barty flicked his wand as flame roared to life under a Cauldron "my Master." Marcus struggled against the curse holding him, trying desperately to manage a wandless and wordless countercharm, no matter how futile the effort felt. He was forced to watch as ingredient after ingredient was added to the cauldron, Barty making a ritualistic declaration for each one.

When Barty picked up the small mishappen swaddled lump that Voldemort's voice came from, Marcus prayed it would drown when the creature was dumped into the boiling cauldron, but something inside him knew that whatever that thing was, it was still alive.

"Bone…of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew…your son!" earth split, and stone cracked as a single aged bone was lifted from the earth, catching fire as it fell into the cauldron. When it landed with a splash, the raging boil became even more furious, the steam rising in intricate spirals.

"Flesh, of the Servant, willingly sacrificed! You will revive your Master!" Barty pulled a blade from his cloak as Marcus realized what was about to happen, but thanks to the body bind he couldn't close his eyes or look away. The silver blade gleamed as it swung downward, Barty's pained roar splitting the night as his severed hand landed in the cauldron with a wet splash, the silvery steam turning blood red.

Barty's head snapped towards Marcus, eyes wide with pain and madness "Blood, of the enemy!" Barty stalked toward him, a new clean knife pulled out "Forcibly taken!" the knife stabbed into Marcus' arm as he wanted to scream, his mouth held shut keeping him silent "You will resurrect your foe!" the bright crimson stood out against pristine silver as Barty tapped three drops into the cauldron which began to shake from the fury of the boiling liquid within.

The Cauldron exploded, hot shards of iron going flying as they shattered tombstones and one cut a burning gash into Marcus' cheek, but he was too horrified to care about that. Standing where the Cauldron had been, the grass burnt and dead, stood an unnaturally pale and thin figure. Hairless, without a nose, and cruel red eyes gleaming.

Voldemort had returned.

"Your arm, Bartemius." Voldemort hissed out, uncaring of the blood dripping on his feet, the whimpers of the scared house elf, or Marcus still trying to escape the body bind.

"Of course, my Master." Barty raised up an arm where the Dark Mark was clearly visible.

"Your other arm, Barty." Voldemort chuckled, sounding almost affectionate although Marcus was sure it was just the monster being pleased at the deference "I cannot have one of my most loyal bleeding out, can I?" as he spoke, Voldemort took the bone like wand from Barty's robe and cast a spell, an arm of silver appearing on the stump, shining and rippling with unknown power.

"Master…it is beautiful!" Barty's eyes danced with madness and delight as he took in the sight of his new appendage.

"Yes, I am indeed a generous-" Voldemort's speech was cut off with a loud pop as a House Elf he'd seen around Hogwarts appeared, grabbing Marcus and hastily apparating him away before the stunned Voldemort could stop them.

He was safe, but Voldemort was back. War had returned to Wizarding England.

-Harry-

Striding into the helm of the warship, Harry approached the communication table "Hail the other ships in our fleet. I want everyone to hear this." Harry gave the order to R2 who beeped in surprise but prepared the communication, even as Leia and Oola stood at his side confused.

"To all those who are with us…there is more you should know. A deadline is approaching swiftly, and I will not be here for much longer." Harry felt Oola and Leia stiffen beside him at that declaration "Many of you have seen my abilities, those outside what you know of the Force, some of you even know the details. But now, it is time for you all to learn of them." He began explaining, wanting to cut off any misunderstandings. He explained of his world, of magic, and of what the Force had shown him.

"I will fight against the Emperor and the Empire…but I do not know how much longer I have until I'm taken away." He clenched his fist. He was proud of the growth Marcus had experienced just as he was furious at the thought of what Tonks was doing, but he knew he wouldn't be able to stop it and there was no guarantee that going through the Veil again would let him return to this Galaxy, or if it did that he'd return when he wished to.

"I say this now, so you will not believe me to have abandoned you, so that you will not wonder where I have gone." Harry sighed, noting that they'd arrive at their destination soon.

"You won't be going alone Harry." Oola grasped his hand in her own.

"We'll be going with you at the very least." Leia nodded in agreement, taking his other hand.

"Where the Mandalore goes, so do the Mandalorians!" the warriors in Baskar on his ship saluted, "FOR MANDALORE!" The roar was echoed by others on the communication, resonating through the force itself as Harry worked to wipe away a tear, touched by the loyalty that they were showing him.

"Worry, you need not." Yoda shook his head, the ancient Jedi master smiling "The Force, with you it will be. A new world joined to it, you go to. A New Order you can build, new planets to explore. See to this world once you go, I will. See to it that it fails, I will not. Learned much from you, I have."

"Sir!" Juno called out from the Helm "We're approaching! Arrival in Five…Four…Three…Two…one!" as they pulled out of light speed, they arrived at the Moons of Endor where the newly constructed Death Star resided.

It was time to end the war.