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The narrow streets of Coruscant's lower levels were a maze of dim alleys and glaring neon. Leia led the group with an unerring sense of direction, her steps quick but measured. The recent near-miss with an Imperial patrol had left Harry and Luke on edge, and their unease was palpable as they struggled to adjust to the oppressive atmosphere. The smell of oil, spice, and decay filled the air, while shadowy figures watched from recessed doorways and flickering street corners.

Harry stumbled over a loose piece of metal grating, muttering under his breath. "How does anyone live here?" he asked, his voice low enough to avoid drawing attention. "why would anyone chose to live here?"

Leia glanced back briefly, her expression set. "Some … most don't have a choice. Keep your head down and keep moving."

Luke, walking close behind, kept his hand near the hilt of his lightsaber. "The lights make it worse," he murmured, gesturing to the garish signs above. "Flashing and throwing weird shadows all over the place. You can't tell where danger might be hiding."

Leia didn't reply, instead holding up a hand to halt them. They pressed themselves against a wall as another patrol of stormtroopers marched past. Harry's grip tightened around his wand, his knuckles whitening. Leia placed a calming hand on his arm. "Not for us," she whispered.

The group waited in tense silence until the clatter of boots faded. Leia motioned for them to move, leading them down another alley. "That's two patrols in less than ten minutes," she muttered. "They're sweeping the area hard. We have to stay sharp and do our best not to stick out."

As they continued, the streets became narrower and dirtier. The lights from above seemed even harsher, casting long, warped shadows. Luke and Harry exchanged uneasy glances. The oppressive atmosphere weighed on them, and every sound—a distant shout, a piece of trash skittering across the ground—set their nerves on edge.

They turned a corner and froze. Another group of stormtroopers blocked their path, scanning the area with cold precision, as they were slowly walking towards them. Leia pushed them back, her mind working quickly. She spotted a small service door nearby, its rusted hinges barely holding it in place.

"Inside," she hissed, shoving the door open just enough for them to slip through.

They found themselves in a cramped storage room filled with crates and old machinery. Leia peered through a crack in the door, watching the patrol pass. One stormtrooper seemed to pause, looking directly at their hiding spot. Harry saw Leia holding her breath, her hand gripping the blaster at her side.

After what felt like an eternity, the trooper moved on to rejoin his companions. Leia exhaled softly and turned to the others. "Let's go. Quickly."

The group finally arrived at their destination—a cantina so run-down it seemed to blend into the decaying buildings around it. The sign above flickered erratically, its alien script barely legible. Harry raised an eyebrow. "This is where we're meeting the rebels?"

Leia didn't answer, striding inside with purpose. The interior was no more inviting than the exterior. The air was thick with smoke and the low hum of conversation. Patrons of all species sat at grimy tables, nursing drinks and casting suspicious glances at the newcomers.

Without hesitation, Leia walked up to a Twi'lek behind the bar, her tone sharp. "I need to see the manager. Now."

The Twi'lek, her green skin marked with faint tattoos, raised an eyebrow. "Do you now?" she replied, her voice dripping with derision.

Leia didn't flinch. "Yes, and I don't have time for games."

Luke and Harry exchanged shocked looks. This was a side of Leia they hadn't seen before—aggressive, almost hostile. The Twi'lek studied Leia for a moment before smirking. "Follow me."

She led them through a door behind the bar into a small, dimly lit back room. As soon as the door closed, Leia's stern expression melted into a grin. "Vena!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around the Twi'lek.

Vena laughed, returning the embrace. "Leia Organa, as I live and breathe! It's been far too long."

Harry and Luke stood awkwardly by the door, unsure of what to make of the sudden change in mood. Vena turned to them, her sharp eyes taking them in. "Friends of yours?"

Leia nodded. "Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter. We're here on ... business."

Vena's smile widened. "Well, any friend of of Leia's is a friend of mind. My cantina might look like a dump, but it's the safest place in this district. You're free to hang out here as long as you need."

The tension in the room eased as the group settled into the back room. Vena pulled out a dusty bottle, its label peeling and worn, and poured generous servings into mismatched glasses for everyone. The liquid inside was a murky green, its aroma sharp and pungent. Harry eyed his glass suspiciously, while Leia and Vena each downed their drinks in one confident gulp.

Reluctantly, Harry followed suit, his face contorting immediately at the foul taste. He fought the urge to spit it out, barely managing to swallow. Across the table, Luke wasn't as successful—he sputtered and sprayed his drink onto the table, coughing violently.

Vena and Leia burst into laughter, the sound cutting through the cantina's oppressive atmosphere. Vena turned to Harry, nodding appreciatively. "Have you had Gamorrean cider before?"

Harry shook his head, unsure if his voice would betray him.

Vena grinned. "I like this one, Leia. Can't remember the last time someone managed to keep that down on their first try."

Leia glanced at Harry and Luke, an apologetic smile spreading across her face. "It's an acquired taste," she said with a shrug.

Vena laughed again, slapping the table. "It's good to see you, Leia," Vena said, leaning back in her chair. "Though I can't imagine you came all this way just to catch up."

Leia's smile faded slightly. "You're right. We … ran into trouble and since we had some down time I thought I'd pop by looking to see if I could pick up any information before we head off to our … friends."

Vena nodded knowingly. "I figured as much. There's a meeting happening later—big one. In the tunnels under the cantina. One of our informants from the Imperial Palace is coming down with some important intel."

Leia's eyes lit up. "Can I sit in?"

Vena hesitated, her expression turning serious. "You know the rules, Leia. This meeting's for the higher-ups. A new face, even yours, could spook the informant or any of the others. But stick around—I'll fill you in on anything relevant afterward."

Leia sighed but nodded. "Not sure how much time we'll have but fair enough, we'll stick around as long as we can."

The Twi'lek leaning back with a relaxed grin as she sipped her drink. Leia, ever composed, seemed slightly on edge as Vena turned to the boys with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So," Vena began, twirling the end of one of her lekku absently. "Has Leia ever told you how we met?"

Leia stiffened visibly, her expression one of mild exasperation mixed with embarrassment. "Vena," she said warningly, "don't."

Vena ignored her, her smile growing wider. "Oh, it's such a good story. You see—"

Leia cut her off, her voice tinged with an uncharacteristic hint of desperation. "No, no, no. Absolutely not. That story is staying between us."

Vena laughed, the sound warm and teasing. "Fine, fine. If that's too sensitive, I could always tell them about your diplomatic gamble on Nar Shaddaa."

Leia groaned. "Vena."

"Or maybe the Sullust sabotage mission?" Vena continued, clearly enjoying herself.

Leia shook her head, a hand going to her temple. "Please stop."

Vena tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Oh! Our escape from Mon Cala. Now that was a tale!"

Leia let out an exasperated laugh, finally giving up. "Fine," she said, throwing her hands in the air. "Tell them about the smuggling run. Just … not the others."

Vena's smile turned triumphant. "You're lucky I like this one," she said with a wink. She leaned forward, her tone dropping slightly as she began weaving the tale.

"Before I came to Coruscant," Vena began, "I was part of a Rebel cell on Borgo Prime. Ever heard of it?"

Harry shook his head, but Luke nodded slowly. "The name rings a bell," he said. "I think I heard spacers mention it on Tatooine. A trade hub, isn't it?"

"Well, sort of," Vena replied. "A shadowport, to be precise. Smugglers, pirates, and bounty hunters galore. But also the perfect place for a Rebel cell to hide ... until the Empire started increasing their activity in that region. At first it wasn't bad but overtime supplies got scarce, and we became desperate. That's when Leia here showed up."

Leia gave a self-deprecating smile. "It wasn't just me. I had help."

Vena chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, her and a pair of Bothans—clever fellows, but Leia was the mastermind behind the entire episode. She … they managed to navigate the labyrinth of shady deals and double-crosses like pros. I was skeptical at first, but then I saw her in action."

"What happened?" Luke asked, leaning in.

"Well," Vena said, setting her drink down, "Leia and her team had to secure a shipment of medical supplies and weapons for our cell. Simple enough in theory, but in a place like Borgo Prime? Nothing's ever simple."

"We thought everything was good, we even paid the required "fees" to the dockmaster. But the moment the supplies on Leia's ship landed on the station, a pirate crew caught wind of it," Vena explained. "Nasty group, too—led by a Duros named Karda Vex. More weapons than brain matter. Anyways they heard how much had been brought onto the station and they decided that those supplies were theirs."

Leia crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "They really weren't the brightest, were they."

"No," Vena agreed with a grin. "But they had numbers and firepower. Most people would've panicked, but not Leia. She had this whole plan already brewing. First, she let them think they'd won."

Harry tilted his head. "Let them win?"

Leia interjected, "Sometimes you have to give your enemy a false sense of victory."

Vena nodded. "While she went to go meet with the Karda Vex face-to-face, she had the Bothans secretly transfer the cargo to another ship—a small freighter hidden in one of the port's docking bays. Meanwhile, she was just wasting the time of the pirates. Apparently most of his crew was in shock as no one had ever had the nerve to yell at Karda. But Leia had managed to get into a shouting match with Karda Vex about how much trouble he was causing her."

Luke chuckled. "That sounds … very unlike you, Leia."

Leia rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," Vena continued, "the Bothans had managed to get the ship fully unloaded before reloading it with boxes of refuse which Karda's men unloaded when they finally got free of Leia. By the time Karda and his crew realized something was off, Leia was already back on her ship and taking off. Of course, Karda wasn't going to let her go that easily. He chased her into the asteroid field nearby."

"Can't remember which of the Duros you had piloting the ship but he was a much better pilot than he looked," Vena said with a laugh. "Weaving through those asteroids, leading Karda's crew deeper and deeper into the field. They were so focused on them and the idea of revenge, they didn't notice how dangerous it was getting."

Leia shrugged. "They underestimated us."

"That they did," Vena said. "By the time they realized they were in trouble, it was too late. Leia's ship slipped through a narrow gap, and an asteroid collided with Karda's ship. The rest of his men scattered after that. Apparently not the most popular guy and no one wanted to continue the fight at that point."

"And the supplies?" Luke asked.

"Delivered safely to our cell," Leia replied, satisfaction in her tone. "Not a single crate lost."

Vena leaned back, her smile fond. "It was impressive. She didn't just save our cell; she showed a lot of people what the Rebellion could really do. That was the start of a lot of good work."

Vena raised her glass in a mock toast. "To Leia Organa: smuggler extraordinaire."

Leia laughed, shaking her head as she looked to Harry and Luke. "Don't let Han hear that. He'll never let me live it down."

The table erupted in laughter, the moment a rare reprieve from the tension of their mission.

As they chatted, Harry couldn't help but study the cantina through the cracked door. The patrons looked rough, their conversations punctuated by the occasional bark of laughter or clash of glasses. He turned to Vena. "How do you keep a place like this under the radar?"

Vena grinned. "It's all about appearances, kid. The general rule is that seedier it looks, the less anyone wants to poke around and that applies doubly for the Empire's soldiers."

Luke frowned. "But with all the patrols outside, aren't you worried they'll find the meeting?"

Vena's expression darkened. "Always a risk. But we've got precautions in place. Trust me, we're ready."

Leia and Vena continued reminiscing, their laughter a rare moment of lightness in the gloom. But Harry couldn't shake the feeling that danger was lurking just outside. He glanced at Luke, who seemed equally on edge.

Leia had just begun recounting a daring escape from an Imperial cruiser when she suddenly fell silent. Her posture stiffened, and her eyes locked onto a man walking into the cantina. Harry followed her gaze and saw him—a tall figure wrapped in a dark cloak, moving with deliberate precision. He slid into a booth at the far end of the cantina, his back to them.

"That's him, isn't it," Leia whispered to Vena, her tone a mixture of curiosity and tension. "The informant?"

Vena glanced over her shoulder and nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Good eye, Leia. That's him. Though I wish he'd taken the secure entrance in the neighboring building like he was supposed to. Less conspicuous and less of a chance of him getting identified."

Leia's frown deepened. "Why didn't he?"

Vena shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Sometimes people get sloppy. I'll make sure everything's set up. Stay put."

With that, she stood and disappeared through the same door she'd led them through earlier, leaving the three of them alone in the backroom.

They waited in tense silence for a while, watching Vena make contact with the informant. However try as he might Harry was unable to relax and felt his hand resting on his wand beneath the table, his fingers brushing its handle as he tried to calm his nerves.

After some time, Leia's voice broke the quiet. "This doesn't feel right."

Harry nodded as he saw Luke glance at her. "What do you mean?" The other boy asked.

Leia didn't answer immediately. Her gaze was fixed on the entrance, where a steady stream of cloaked figures had begun to trickle in. At first, they seemed to blend into the cantina's usual clientele. But as their numbers grew, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations quieted, and even the most hardened patrons seemed to edge away from the newcomers and try to make their way towards the exit.

Luke leaned closer to Leia. "What's going on?"

Leia's face had gone pale. She spoke in a low, urgent whisper. "I think this is an ambush. The cell must have been compromised."

Harry's heart sank, his grip tightening on his wand. "You're sure?"

Leia nodded toward the informant's booth. The man was rising from his seat, a faint, almost smug smile on his face. "Look at him. He knows something we don't."

Luke's hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his lightsaber. "What do we do?"

Leia's expression was torn, her mind obviously racing between the need to protect her friend and the importance of the information they were trying to deliver. Finally, she spoke. "We have to get out of here. If we can signal Vena on the way, great. But the intel we have is too important to risk losing."

Her words hung in the air, the weight of the decision settling over them. Before they could act, the situation took a sharp turn. The cloaked individuals scattered throughout the cantina suddenly threw off their coverings, revealing the gleaming white armor of stormtroopers. Blasters raised, one of them barked an order.

"Everyone on the ground! Identification will be verified. Cooperate, and you will be released."

Leia's panic was visible as she glanced between Luke and Harry. Luke's lightsaber remained unlit, his hand hovering over it as he assessed their options. But it was Harry who broke the stalemate. He grinned, an odd mixture of determination and mischief flashing in his eyes.

"There's no exit in here so I'll create a distraction and give the two of you a chance to get out of here," he said simply.

Before anyone could argue, Harry threw open the door and pointed his wand toward the ground between the commanding stormtrooper and two others. "Confringo!" he shouted.

The spell hit with a deafening explosion, sending debris flying and the stormtroopers careening into the walls. Chaos erupted as the cantina's patrons dove for cover. The remaining stormtroopers quickly regrouped, firing toward the bar.

Harry ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding a barrage of blaster fire. Luke ignited his lightsaber with a snap-hiss, the blue blade illuminating their corner of the room. Leia drew her blaster, a grim smile on her face.

"Well," she said, firing off two quick shots that struck their marks as a pair of stormtroopers tried to make their way around the bar. "Looks like we're fighting our way out."

Harry nodded, sending a Stunning Spell toward another stormtrooper who rounded from the other end. "Don't think there was going to be much of a choice."

As blaster bolts lit up the cantina, Harry turned to Luke and Leia. "I'll draw their fire. You two focus on getting out of here. There has to be a back door to the cantina or something, but be careful there are likely to be stormtroopers back there—and see if you can manage to get Vena out while you're at it."

Leia hesitated, her eyes searching Harry's face. "Are you sure?"

Harry grinned again. "I've got this. Go. I'll meet up with you at the Falcon … I'm pretty sure I know the way."

Luke hesitated, his lightsaber humming as he deflected a series of blaster bolts. "Harry, you can't—"

"I can," Harry interrupted, his voice steady. "Go! I'll handle this."

Leia's eyes searched his face, but she saw the determination in his gaze. She nodded, her blaster aimed at another stormtrooper as she replied, "Be careful."

Without waiting for further argument, Harry darted out from behind the bar, his wand already moving. The stormtroopers were slightly delayed in tracking his sudden movement, their shots missing him by inches as he rolled into a booth for cover.

From his new position, Harry cast a series of quick spells. A Disarming Charm sent two stormtroopers' blasters flying from their hands, and a cutting curse swept across another group, eliciting two distinct screams as it connected. Harry pressed forward, weaving between tables and chairs, using the chaos of the cantina to his advantage. He could hear the frantic shouts of patrons as they scrambled to escape, and could only hope that Leia and Luke had managed to get out alright.

The next several minutes were a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Harry moved quickly and unpredictably, diving behind cover and casting spells with precision when able. A well-aimed Stunning Spell knocked two stormtroopers unconscious, while a Banishing Charm sent a stack of heavy crates toppling onto another.

The stormtroopers were relentless, but Harry's magic kept them off balance. A Confundus Charm sent one trooper stumbling into his own comrades, while another blasting curse dropped part of the ceiling onto a group that had managed to pin Harry into a booth. Dust and debris filled the air, making it increasingly difficult to see.

Harry was panting, his adrenaline surging as he took out the last stormtrooper with a well-placed Knockback Jinx, smiling as he watched him drop to the floor after his helmet collided loudly with the edge of the bar. The cantina fell eerily silent, the only sounds the distant hum of machinery and the crackle of small fires.

Harry stood slowly, the room spinning slightly as he caught his breath. The air was thick with smoke and dust, making it hard to see more than a few feet in any direction. He smiled faintly, the thrill of survival coursing through him.

But his relief was short-lived.

From the far side of the room, through the haze, a familiar sound reached his ears. Snap-hiss.

Harry froze, his heart skipping a beat. He turned toward the source of the noise, his wand still raised. But instead of the comforting blue glow of Luke's lightsaber, a blood-red blade ignited, its malevolent light cutting through the gloom and illuminating the corner of the room.

The figure wielding it stepped forward, the red glow revealing a tall, imposing form clad in dark robes. A mask obscured their face, but the aura of menace was unmistakable.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered under his breath.

Kind Regards,

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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 – I have to say that this was a pretty fun chapter full of important information. First of all … theoretically … if Vena managed to escape, I'd imagine she might become an important ongoing character who pops up from time to time. Fingers cross that she is safe! Can only imagine the fun stories she'd have relating to some fun Leia adventures as Leia seemed incredibly comfortable during the escape on the Death Star within canon, so I had to imagine that she had her share of run ins with trouble before.

Story Note 2 – And really hope that was a fun and unexpected ending to the chapter. While I did really enjoy writing the fight scene beforehand I really imagine its going escalate significantly from this point!

Story Note 3 - This story will obviously be a Harry x Leia story. But will be working on developing their relationship in a way that makes sense, so I really look forward to receiving feedback on how it is going. I really hope you don't hesitate to provide any feedback. Thanks in advance for that!

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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starboy454, cameron1812, - I am really happy you enjoyed the story and thank you for taking the time to provide feedback!

PhoenixFanatic999 - Certainly really happy that its been so well received and happy to hear you are enjoying it! Do not hesitate to provide any feedback as the story progresses. Things you like, don't like, things you want to see, places you think they'll visit, ...

Jostanos - It's really awesome hearing comments like that but even more awesome is when the same person is commenting on multiple stories. Super happy you are enjoying the stories!

jiubantai-taicho - Yay on catching up, enjoy another chapter! Certainly this will mostly be from Legends although there will certainly be somethings from the new canon that I might consider as I think they really would add something. Haha I imagine Han wouldn't be a super fan.

kr0n0s00 - Maybe the next story. Although this was built to specifically be a Harry Leia story. But make sure to provide feedback when I start posting polls and asking questions about new story ideas.

Blaze1992 - Ya can't imagine that Leia would be any safer than Harry would be while exploring the planet. But that would be a really good idea! Well at some point unfortunately people fear the people in power and don't do anything, content to just sit back believing that nothing bad would ever happen to them.

Monkey D. Conan - Obviously Han is a fun character to write and the enjoyable part of this story was obviously coming up with a Harry centric story that included Han/Chewie/Leia/Luke/and the droids. Of course not every chapter/arc will have every character but all will certainly play important parts.

samjordon088 - Really happy you enjoyed the story and certainly some chapters will feel a little shorter but those usually are followed by longer ones. But in general I try to write chapters between 3500 - 6000 words of actual story (ignoring the notes and replies to comments). Hope you continue to enjoy the story as it progresses!