Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars or their respective universes. Who knew.

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The soft shuffle of robes echoed down the dimly lit corridor of the Jedi Temple. The natural light coming in the windows providing a soothing ambiance to the empty corridor. Masters Yoda and Mace Windu walked side by side, their steps in sync as they moved toward the Council chamber.

"Are you sure we made the right decision, Master Yoda?" Mace's deep voice, usually so steady, held a trace of uncertainty. His eyes, usually so sharp and unyielding, were conflicted as he looked ahead.

Yoda paused mid-stride. The short figure of the Grand Master looked towards the other Jedi Master before slowly turning toward a large window and gazing out into the expanse of Coruscant. The bustling cityscape stretched far beyond the horizon, a world teeming with life and decisions that shaped the galaxy.

"Made the right decision, am I sure we did?" Yoda's voice was low, almost a whisper, but Mace heard him clearly. "Unsure, I am. But trust in the Force, I do."

The wind stirred outside the Temple, carrying faint sounds of distant speeders and ships. After a pause Yoda continued, his reflection merging with the glass. "Met the boy, we did. The Force swirls around him, felt it, did you not?"

Mace nodded, recalling the strange sensation of being near Harry Skywalker. It was like standing in the eye of a storm. Calm, yet undeniably powerful. The boy, even with his uncertainty and confusion, radiated something beyond the ordinary, something he had never felt before.

"Sense I do, not to train him, a mistake it would be," Yoda added after a long pause, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Besides, a feeling I have. Not to train him … Qui-Gon would not allow. Stubborn he is."

Mace chuckled softly. Qui-Gon Jinn had always been a maverick among the Jedi, more prone to following his own feelings than the will of the Council. If he truly felt that the boy was as important as he thought he was, it would be difficult to deny him.

Yoda, still looking into the distance, tilted his head ever so slightly. "Perhaps, indeed, the child from the prophecy, this is."

Mace felt a slight tremor run through him at the mention of the prophecy. The Chosen One … the one who would bring balance to the Force. He knew that it was a dangerous notion to place such expectations on any one individual, especially one so young. But Yoda's words carried the weight of centuries of wisdom. If he believed it possible, then it was not something he could dismiss lightly.

"Then train him, we shall," Mace said, his voice steady again.

With that, the two resumed their slow walk down the vast corridor, neither speaking, both lost in thought. The air seemed thick with anticipation, as though the Force itself was waiting for them to make the decision that could alter the very fate of the entire galaxy.

When they finally reached the Council chamber, the great doors slid open with a quiet hiss. As they stepped inside, Mace and Yoda noticed that the other Council members were already present, seated in their usual positions. Their faces turned expectantly toward the two arriving Masters.

"Forgive us our lateness, you must," Yoda said with a soft grunt as he moved to his seat. "Much on my mind, there has been. And move as fast as I once did, I do not."

A few soft chuckles broke the tension, and Ki-Adi-Mundi gave a reassuring nod. "It is no worry, Master Yoda. You are here now, and that is what matters."

Yoda settled into his seat, glancing around at each of the Masters in turn, as the room immediately fell silent.

"Agreed, we all said we are," Yoda began, his voice calm but filled with purpose, "that training the boy, is what needs to be done. But … who should train him? The question, that is."

The question hung in the air for a moment, and Yoda noticed that all the Jedi Masters began to look toward each other, gauging who would be willing to speak first, considering the weight of the decision.

"Interested, Qui-Gon Jinn certainly seems to be," Yoda continued. "And found the boy he did. The Force speaking through him, I wonder is it. Rarely wrong, his instincts are and a valuable resource, he has always been."

There were murmurs of agreement around the room. Before, one of the younger Masters, Adi Gallia, spoke up, her voice thoughtful. "Perhaps instead, we should look at his apprentice. Qui-Gon was right when he said Obi-Wan Kenobi is ready to be a Jedi Knight. Perhaps he is also ready for a Padawan of his own. While he is still young by Jedi standards, had shown remarkable growth and promise. He had proven himself in the field and is certainly no longer a mere padawan.

Ki-Adi-Mundi leaned forward slightly, his long head cresting in thought. "It is a possibility. Obi-Wan has learned much under Qui-Gon's tutelage. He may be ready and their closeness in age might prove beneficial for Skywalker."

Plo Koon, his voice soft but firm, shook his head. "While I think either of them may have the potential to be good mentors for the boy. I wonder if this is indeed the child from the prophecy … should you not train him yourself, Master Yoda? Certainly, he would benefit the most from learning from you."

All eyes turned to the ancient Grand Master. There was a moment of quiet, before Yoda let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

"Train him myself?" Yoda repeated, a playful glint in his eyes. "Believe, I do, that trained my last Padawan, I have. Another I would teach, only if no other options there were."

He glanced around the room, the faintest of smiles tugging at his lips. "Luckily, many options, we have."

Mace Windu nodded thoughtfully. "What about your previous Padawan? Count Dooku has begun to stray from the ideas of the Jedi Order, but perhaps another Padawan of his own would reunite us with him."

Yoda's face grew more solemn at the mention of Dooku, his former apprentice who had distanced himself from the Order in recent years. There was a sadness in Yoda's eyes, a deep regret that he could not quite hide. "Count Dooku … his path, he has lost. But, return to the light, I can only hope. Assigning him the boy, however, a risk it would be."

The room fell silent once more, as each Master looked towards Yoda before glancing around the room, understanding that the training of the child meant more than just shaping a single Jedi; it possibly meant influencing the future of the galaxy itself.

"Are there any other options the Council wishes to put forward?" Mace eventually asked, breaking the silence and looking around the room.

There was a long pause as each member of the Council meditated on the question. However, in the end no other names were put forward.

Finally, Yoda spoke again, his voice soft but filled with wisdom. "Much, to think on, we have before us. The path forward, uncertain it is. Meditate on this, we must. Tomorrow again let us meet, and see if the Force, spoken to us, it has."

After nodding to Master Yoda, the Council members slowly began to rise from their seats, each lost in their own thoughts. Mace sat for a moment longer, watching Yoda, who remained seated, his small frame almost dwarfed by the great chair and Mace could sense the internal struggle within him.

"Master Yoda," Mace said softly, "whatever decision we make, I trust it will be the will of the Force."

Yoda nodded, but his eyes remained distant, fixed on something only he could perceive. "The will of the Force, indeed. Guide us, it should. But more difficult, seeing the path forward, has been lately."

Mace bowed his head slightly and left the chamber, leaving Yoda to his thoughts.

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The chamber was dimly lit, its walls cast in the dull glow of the surrounding machinery. Cold, sterile light flickered over the faces of the Neimoidians, their expressions tense, barely hiding their anxiety. At the head of the room stood Darth Maul, the Zabrak Sith Lord, his dark robes draped around his menacing figure.

Nute Gunray, Viceroy of the Trade Federation, stood near the center of the room, his pale green skin glistening with a sheen of sweat. Beside him, his subordinates shifted nervously, their bulbous eyes darting between each other and Maul, who stared at them with a mix of disdain and amusement.

"We are … just asking for a little help, Lord Maul?" Gunray asked, his voice trembling slightly, betraying the fear gnawing at his insides. "Just with these … these rebellious few? We've managed to secure most of Naboo, but there are just the small pockets of resistance … those we haven't managed to capture yet."

Maul, his yellow eyes gleaming like those of a predator toying with its prey, folded his arms across his chest. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, directly towards Nute Gunray, his movements predatory and fluid. The Neimoidians recoiled slightly, sensing the darkness that seemed to pour off him.

Nute Gunray swallowed nervously as Maul's gaze locked onto him. "We are doing everything in our power, I assure you. But some of them, they are hiding, and then we have heard rumors of the planets natives but have found no sign of them yet—"

Maul interrupted him with a scoff, his lip curling into a sneer. "Rounding up stragglers is beneath me, Viceroy," he hissed, his voice low but dripping with contempt. "How do you expect my master would react if he learned you were unable to do even this one small task properly?"

Gunray's breath caught in his throat. The other Neimoidians exchanged panicked glances, shuffling in place, unsure whether to speak or remain silent. They knew all too well that any offence in the presence of a Sith could be fatal.

Maul took another step toward them, his black cloak rustling slightly. "Is this what you want? For me to inform Lord Sidious that you cannot even manage such a simple task? That your incompetence could threaten his carefully laid plans?"

Gunray opened his mouth, words failing him as he struggled to form a response, but before he could stammer out an excuse, Maul's communicator beeped softly, interrupting their tense exchange. The sound echoed through the chamber breaking up the momentary silence.

Maul glanced down at the communicator attached to his belt. His lips curled into a wicked smile as he looked back at Gunray, the gleam in his eyes nothing short of sadistic. "Ah," he said, his voice soft, mocking, "it appears my master is trying to contact us. Shall I pass along a message from you, perhaps telling him how little you are actually capable of?"

The Neimoidians paled further, shaking their heads vigorously. What little composure they had when talking to Darth Maul had disappeared when the Sith had informed them who was attempting to reach him. The last thing they wanted was to be caught in Darth Sidious's displeasure.

With a chuckle, Maul turned his back on them, walking to a quiet corner of the room. He smiled as he felt their fear fester and allowed it to continue as he calmly activated the communicator.

"Yes, Master?" Maul said, bowing slightly as the hologram of Darth Sidious materialized before him. The image of the dark lord flickered slightly in the faint light, but his presence was as imposing as ever.

Sidious, his hooded face shadowed and unreadable, inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Maul," he began, his voice cold and calculating. "The time has come. The Queen is on her way back to Naboo. She is accompanied by a handful of guards … and the two Jedi you encountered on Tatooine."

Maul's eyes narrowed. His previous encounter with Qui-Gon Jinn had left him unsatisfied, and a fire of vengeance burned within him. He had been denied a final confrontation then, but now he could rectify that.

"It is imperative that you capture Queen Amidala," Sidious continued. "Her defiance is becoming an obstacle. She must be forced to sign the treaty with the Trade Federation. As for the Jedi … they will, no doubt, attempt to interfere." Sidious's lips twisted into a thin smile. "Feel free to kill them if they do. I trust I will find a way to make their failure useful to our cause. Perhaps their deaths can be spun to discredit the Jedi's ability to protect their allies."

Maul inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the directive. His fingers twitched at the prospect of finally crossing blades with the Jedi again, of finally ending their interference. But then, Sidious added something that caused Maul to raise an eyebrow.

"There is one more thing, Maul," Sidious said, his tone shifting subtly, a hint of something darker lying beneath the words. "Among those traveling with the Queen is a boy. He was just accepted to be trained by the Jedi."

Maul's eyebrow lifted slightly, and his curiosity piqued. "A boy, Master?"

Sidious nodded, his eyes narrowing as though he were recalling some distant, vague memory. "Yes. I saw him briefly on Coruscant. There is … something more to him. Something I do not understand yet. But he is not trained, and therefore, no threat to you. But keep an eye out for him."

Maul's curiosity deepened. A boy, traveling with Jedi? And yet his master was being deliberately vague. He had learned over the years that when Sidious expressed interest in someone or something, it was not without reason.

"Should I kill the boy along with the Jedi?" Maul asked, his voice calm, but a gleam of sadistic pleasure flickered in his eyes.

There was a long pause as Sidious's hologram remained silent. The Sith Lord's face grew thoughtful, his eyes distant, as though weighing the possibilities. Nearly a full minute passed in tense silence before Sidious finally shook his head, his voice cold and deliberate.

"No," Sidious said slowly. "Not unless it becomes necessary. There may be … a use for the boy. I sense there is more to him than meets the eye."

Maul's smile faltered, his amusement fading. It was rare for Sidious to deny him the opportunity to eliminate potential threats. The fact that his master wished to keep the boy alive, meant that there was something truly unique about this child.

"And if the boy interferes?" he pressed, the sharp edge of his desire barely concealed.

Sidious's eyes flickered with icy menace as he locked gazes with Maul through the hologram. "Leave him be if you can. However, do not let his wellbeing compromise your mission, Maul. The Queen must be captured, and the Jedi must be dealt with if they stand in your way. But the boy … kill him if necessary. "

Maul bowed slightly, though the flames of ambition still smoldered within him, as his smile grew. "As you wish, Master."

Maul felt a bit of tightness in his throat as Sidious's voice cut threw his thoughts. "Only kill him if necessary."

And then suddenly the pressure decreased so suddenly, Maul could almost be forgiven for wondering if he had felt it in the first place, and Sidious's image flickered once more before vanishing, leaving Maul alone in the darkened corner. He straightened, his thoughts churning. The Jedi, the Queen, and now this boy—there were many variables to contend with, but the challenge only fueled his resolve.

Turning back to the Neimoidians, who were still standing awkwardly in the room, their anxiety palpable, Maul's face remained impassive. He had little patience for their bumbling efforts, but they were still necessary for the time being.

"The Queen will be arriving soon," Maul said, his voice cold and commanding. "Ensure that your droids are prepared. We will capture her and force her to sign the treaty. And when the Jedi interfere …"

He let the sentence hang in the air, his meaning clear. The Neimoidians nodded hurriedly as they excused themselves from the room, practically tripping over one another, eager to avoid his wrath.

After several seconds, Maul strode from the room, his mind focused on the coming confrontation. He had been denied a full battle on Tatooine. This time, he would not allow such a failure. The Jedi would fall to his blade. The Queen would be captured. And as for the boy… well, Sidious's orders were clear.

But deep down, Maul relished the thought that, if necessary, he might still be able to indulge his darker instincts. After all, who could stop him if the boy fell in the chaos of battle?

Kind Regards,

FavoriteAuthor

If you like this content do not hesitate to smash that like button and subscribe. Haha but seriously if you do enjoy the story - do favorite it, other than messaging me or leaving a comment it's the only way I know if you are enjoying the stories and chapters.

Story Note 1 – Getting closer to the reveal of Harry's master. There is a vote available for anyone who wants to record their guess or potentially have a say in what's in store for Harry. Feel free to check it out or comment below. Looking forward to your guesses!

Story Note 2 – In the first movie obviously Maul doesn't have a large speaking role but I think I did a pretty good job capturing his essence. Used inspiration from the cartoons and his other brief live-action cameo. At the very least the Neimoidians certainly experienced the desired effect of his presence. Let me know what you thought though!

Story Note 3 – One of the things that I have been asked in comments and messages is what is going on in the world and what certain other characters are up to and how Harry's actions affect what else is going on. As such the easiest way I felt to show this was through the use of these slightly smaller interlude chapters, which I am planning to release occasionally if there is a character or event I want to introduce, but unable to directly introduce them in a convenient way related to what Harry is doing at the moment. Have already had several requests about things people want to see, that have been written out. I am planning for them to be approximately this length so likely a little smaller than a normal chapter ( of course it all depends on what and how much needs to be covered, but in general ~ 2000 - 3000 words. If there are any situations or characters you think should be included in a chapter like this, send a message or leave a comment. And please do provide feedback on the style of these interludes. Thanks in advance!

A large thanks to those of you out there who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you all are enjoying them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or have reached out to me directly.

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rice2999, archades53, fraewyn, morring star, Ep, starboy454, malinkody, AshokaTheGreat, cameron1812, - Thanks so much for the feedback and hope to hear that you continue to enjoy the story!

bring the money - That is a good catch and yup I mostly wrote it as Harry getting a little caught up but when things slow down and he is prompted it will come back!

Ariadne Venegas - The Jedi certainly did make some weird choices when it came to the wellbeing of children but it's nice that ObiWan cared for Harry here. And due to their differing upbringing Harry is much harder to have the wool pulled over his eyes.

MastrDragn - Nope Harry just got a little caught up but it'll come back up.

scyfly - Totally fair points and appreciate it. Certainly there is overlap but as story progresses more and more divergence will happen. And it's not that Harry was a full adult when he came back.

MattBlack - Have been trying to balance Harry developing as different and his desire to not raise to much attention as he knows there is still much about the world he doesn't understand. However, that will change.

Jostanos - Good feedback! Naboo is where events will really start to shift from canon ... I guess we shall see what happens! Enjoy the upcoming arcs!

George Cristian810 - I understand that and apologize. Tried to be honest that being a Jedi was the likely outcome for his journey although honestly he will certainly not become the prototypical Jedi nor will he follow Anakins path. That being said being a Jedi does open doors. But as the story progresses he will see more and more what is 'wrong' with the Jedi and what he wants his future to look like.

EricFreak - I thought he certainly did alright! I guess we shall see what happens!

jslee102 - That would have been a neat angle but in the end wanted to show more so that as Harry was different than Anakin, the Council felt he was more acceptable, although he certainly will still find faults with the Jedi ways.

qwertyuiop14685 - I'm sure Harry won't solely rely on the Jedi to help with his path. But I guess we will see what's in store!

Vukk - Oh certainly don't argue. I think his dialogue minus the weird way he went on about sand was really well written for the most part wrt to being in character but the character itself while fitting his upbringing is what shall be different as Harry while not having exaclty the best guardians growing up (ugh Dursleys) still managed to turn out alright and has a lot of pleasant moments at Hogwarts with his 'family' there that helped him grow.

WhiteElfElder - Well ... I guess we will see!