《Harry Potter and the Boy From Tatooine》


 In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

    Harry Potter found himself in a disorienting state of uncertainty. He strained to examine his surroundings, searching for anything recognizable, but all that met his gaze were luminous streaks of light. These streaks originated from a point in the distance, too far for Harry to discern, and extended far behind him, creating an unsettling, infinite expanse.


    Despite the feeling of movement, Harry lacked any fixed reference points to gauge his speed or direction. It was as if he had been thrust into a perplexing journey with no apparent purpose or means of control.


    Realizing that his immediate surroundings offered no answers, Harry attempted to retrace his memories, struggling through a fog of recollection. After what seemed like an agonizingly effort, fragmented scenes began to surface. He recalled a frantic race through the winding corridors of Hogwarts, an atmosphere fraught with tension and impending doom. There had been a fierce battle, and Harry''s heart ached as he remembered the pain at remembering loved ones had been lost. In his mind''s eye, he could see the lifeless forms of Fred, Lupin, Tonks ¨C friends and family who had met their untimely demise with the belief that Harry would save them.


    His memories sharpened further, revealing another moment. He recalled walking alone through a shadowy forest, a sense of solitude and vulnerability clinging to him. Then, with a vivid, almost haunting clarity, he recalled the malevolent green glow of the killing curse hurtling towards him, dominating his vision, and ¡­ that was the last moment of recollection.


    Harry''s persistent effort to recall more eluded him, frustratingly just out of reach ¡­ well that wasn''t entirely true ¡­ A fleeting image of a cloaked figure flashed through his mind, shrouded in black robes. He could recall a singular word, a voice unfamiliar and enigmatic, bellowing out with commanding authority, "FATE!"


    As Harry continued to observe his mysterious surroundings, a curious sensation unfolded before him. He realized that he was gradually decelerating, and as this happened, the streaks of light began to transform into intensely brilliant, minuscule points of light that whizzed past him at such speed that he couldn''t pivot his head swiftly enough to capture any distinctive details.


    As the deceleration progressed, a startling realization took hold. These luminous points of light were not evenly dispersed but instead arranged in a seemingly arbitrary pattern across the mysterious black landscape. Harry''s breath caught in his throat as a chilling certainty settled over him.


    His mind raced with a disconcerting question: could these points of light be stars? Was he hurtling through the boundless expanse of space. The thought left Harry in a state of profound astonishment and uncertainty.


    A surge of panic gripped Harry, and he couldn''t help but twisting and turning, desperately seeking clues to decipher the manner in which he was traversing space. His sense of being alive seemed incompatible with flying through space, fueling his anxiety and confusion.


    In the midst of this introspection, an even more startling revelation unfolded before him. As he cast his gaze downwards, a sharp silent gasp of astonishment escaped his lips, falling far short of adequately articulating his disconcertment. His body, upon closer inspection, appeared to be in a state of partial transparency. The sight was profoundly disturbing, inducing a sense of fear and bewilderment at what was happening.


    The situation struck Harry as though someone had very poorly cast a disillusionment charm upon him, a spell meant to render a person invisible but, in this instance, had been only partially executed. While he could discern the outline of his body and discern some vague features, it was as if he had become a semi-transparent entity, allowing the light of the stars to shine through him, accentuating the weirdness of the experience.


    In his relentless quest to ascertain his whereabouts and comprehend his circumstances, Harry continued to twist and turn, scanning for answers. But, disappointingly, nothing offered a shred of clarity.


    As he continued to survey the void, a growing sense of desolation began to seep into his thoughts. He couldn''t shake the disheartening feeling that perhaps he had met his end. In a mix of resignation and surprise, he muttered inwardly, "I must be dead ... This is not at all what I expected ... just floating through space for all eternity." The overwhelming sense of the unknown and the uncertainty of his situation weighed heavily upon him.


    "You will not be flying through space forever," a voice resonated through the void, and Harry instantly recognized it as the same voice that had previously bellowed "FATE." It appeared to come from all directions at once, echoing through the emptiness of space.


    Startled and taken aback, Harry let out a sudden shout as he attempted to swivel around, his gaze darting in all directions in an attempt to pinpoint the source of this mysterious voice. However, it became increasingly apparent that the origin of the voice defied his ability to locate.


    The voice, responding to Harry''s thoughts, seemed to agree, "I am not there, or at least not in any form you would be able to perceive."


    Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions and the jarring surrealism of his predicament, Harry called out to the disembodied voice, his questions and concerns pouring forth. "Who are you? What is happening to me ...?" His thoughts hung on the feelings of doubt, wondering if this encounter was real or if it was all happening within his head.


    In the midst of Harry''s engagement with the mysterious voice, he realized that his gradual deceleration had continued, affording him the opportunity to discern the intriguing shapes hurtling past him. These forms, upon closer inspection, bore a striking resemblance to planets. Each of these orbs seemed to bear their own distinctive characteristics and bewildering landscapes.


    Some of these planets, Harry observed, were home to colossal, otherworldly trees that reached impressive heights, creating an eerie leafy skyline against the backdrop of the space. Others were entirely submerged beneath vast expanses of glistening water, their surfaces forming a serene oasis amid the stars. Still, other planets presented an even more impressive contrast as they were covered in the fiery, molten glow of lava, glowing bright red against the darkness of space ¨C as if small little embers floating in the darkness of night.


    As the voice engaged Harry once more, offering a reply to his query, it declared, "Who I am is not an easy notion to explain. But you may view me as the concept of fate."


    Harry was left momentarily stunned, his thoughts spiraling in astonishment. "Fate?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief, not anticipating such a cryptic revelation.


    "Yes, what I am is more complex and beyond your ability to understand but you may think of and address me as Fate," the voice responded enigmatically.


    Struggling to come to terms with the astonishing revelations, Harry stammered out, "Um ¡­ ok ¡­ Fate? ... what is happening? What happened to me."


    The response that followed was delivered with a touch of simplicity, "That is a slightly more straightforward question to address. Simply put, you Harry Potter, have died."


    Harry''s world seemed to shatter with those words, leaving him emotionally reeling in disbelief. "Wait, what?" His mind raced, grappling to formulate a coherent response as he tried to process the shocking revelation. "No ... no ... this can''t be true. Why are my memories so hazy? This must be some kind of ruse, a ploy to extract information from me."


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    If the cold unyielding voice had been capable of sounding sad, Harry was sure the tone of the next statement qualified. "I am sorry Harry, but it is the truth. The man on your planet that you knew as Tom Riddle attempted to defy his fate and attain immortality. And being responsible for death, that was an affront to me."


    Harry''s thoughts whirled in response to this revelation. "Wait ¡­ you are also Death?"


    The enigmatic voice affirmed with a sense of inevitability, "I am, for it is the fate of nearly all things to eventually face their end."


    As Harry attempted to contemplate this insight, he noticed that once more his deceleration persisted. He passed a world which appeared to be covered in nothing but buildings reaching up towards the skies as if trying to escape what sat at their roots and another world where it appeared all their buildings were floating in the sky.


    "So if the fate of all things is to die ¡­ why am I here? What is happening?" Harry inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity and confusion.


    The voice replied with an air of explanation, "I had found you acting in such a way that I was able to claim you as an agent of fate. This is a rare occurrence, something I have only been able to do a handful of times though the existence of the concept you know as time. Inspired by your actions and your sacrifice on your world, you set in motion events that allowed those who you knew to emerge victorious over Tom Riddle. This, in turn, restored the natural order of things on your world."


    As those words settled in, Harry couldn''t help but start to feel a rush of relief. "You mean my friends ... they ... they won? They''re safe?" he cautiously inquired, an undercurrent of anxiety in his voice, fearing that he might have misinterpreted the message.


    "Yes, Harry, they won, they triumphed over Tom Riddle, who as a consequence, proceeded to wither away into an eternal nothingness, destined to be forgotten by everything and everyone, an existence without end. Though the fight was difficult, none of those who you care about and left behind, lost their lives in what had remained in the conflict."


    Upon hearing these reassuring words, Harry let out an inaudible sigh, and the tension that had clung to him, like a dark, ominous shadow, seemed to disperse, allowing a profound sense of relaxation to wash over him. The weight of uncertainty and worry that had gripped him for what felt like an eternity yielded to a profound relief.


    They had won ¡­ they had actually won ¡­


    Seeking clarity, Harry inquired, "What happens next? Can I return? Or do I get to move on ¡­ and get to be reunited with those I lost?"


    The question lingered, as Fate seemed to pause, "You have the choice to return, or you can choose to journey forward. But like the boundless space around you, there are an infinite numbers of decision you can make at this point."


    Harry looked around him observing the vastness of space and weighing Fate''s words, trying to decide what he would rather do ¡­ whether to return to the world he had left behind, reuniting with his friends left behind: Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and all the others ¡­ or to venture forward into the unknown, and have the opportunity to meet his parents ¡­ Sirius ¡­ and all the others who had passed on and beckoned.


    Before he was able to say anything though, Fate spoke once more, "However, I hope to ask a favor of you. You had managed to stop a man whose actions were threatening a nation, I am asking you to help stop a man whose actions will threaten an entire galaxy."


    As Fate had been explaining its request, Harry noticed that his gradual deceleration had him steadily approaching a planet directly in front of him ¡­ a planet that appeared to be one solid color, a desaturated yellow ¡­ a planet that seemed to be composed entirely of ¡­ sand.


    ''Ooo ¡­ I love sand,'' Harry thought, a memory surging to the forefront of his mind. A memory of a trip the Dursley''s had been forced to bring him on, a trip where everyone else had been so focused on Dudley trying to swim in the lake that they all seemed to forget about Harry, leaving him to lay by himself on the beach and play in the sand.


    Shaking off the memory, Harry reflected on Fate''s proposal. With a measure of trepidation, he tentatively asked, "How would I possibly be able to succeed? I barely managed to prevail against Voldemort, and it required actually sacrificing myself for my friends to accomplish this. How am I supposed to achieve this task? ¡­ Why don''t you do something?"


    "I am not able to directly interfere in the fates of people. However, when you became an Agent of Fate, I did gain a little influence to affect where and how you existed. However, once I do this, I will lose any ability to intervene further in this universe. Should you choose to accept this mission, once placing you, and a gift for being my Agent, something that should help you succeed, I will no longer be able to access this universe, whether to lend aid in your times of need or prevent your descent should you falter."


    The weight of the decision began to weigh down on Harry and he thought back on the memories he had accumulated over his lifetime. Memories of cherished moments spent with friends, enduring images of his parents, scars of his own failures, and the heart-wrenching memories of watching others suffer. And in that moment, Harry Potter knew with complete certainty, what he was going to do.


    "If I do this," Harry inquired with a touch of hesitation in his voice, "I will be able to see my parents someday though, ¡­ right?" The question conveying his hope for an eventual reuninion.


    Fate replied with a reassuring tone, "Yes Harry, no matter what course of action you chose, and no matter the outcome in this galaxy, you have more than earned the right to be reunited with your parents someday."


    In a seemingly quieter voice Fate continued, "This stands if even after this experience there is another universe I ask you to intervene in. This right to a reunion shall never be forfeited, it will only be temporarily deferred."


    With a deep breath, Harry nodded. "Well then, I have decided ¡­"


    As he spoke, Harry noticed that his previous suspicion had been confirmed. He had indeed been heading towards the planet apparently covered in sand. Over the past minute, the planet had been getting bigger and bigger until the sandy terrain below him filled his entire vision.


    As Harry descended, he cast a sidelong glance and observed a remarkable sight. He appeared to soar by what could only be described as a spaceship ¨C an incredibly shiny and polished silver space ship that appeared to be quite streamlined in its design, which also appeared to be descending towards the planets surface, specifically a little grouping of buildings ¡­ A settlement? A town? A city?


    Even though his decision had been made, doubts continued to plague his thoughts, and he voiced his concerns to Fate, "How will I be able to make a difference though? I had enough difficulty making a difference on my own world and I did not have to leave my country. As a foreigner, how will I have even the smallest chance to save the galaxy from ¡­ whatever ¡­ whoever the threat is."


    Fate responded with a reassuring toner, "Do not be troubled Harry, as mentioned, when you awake you will see the gift I have given you. Furthermore, you won''t merely began an existence here; you will inhabit the body of an individual who will have a unique opportunity to be close to pivotal events across this universe. While the journey ahead will not always be easy, you have the chance to make a meaningful impact. In order to help you start in this universe I will also give you all the previous knowledge and skills of this individual, it should help to make this transition easier for you and should help prevent you from sticking out."


    As Harry processed this revelation, he found a glimmer of hope amidst the daunting task ahead of him.


    "This will be the extent of my intervention," Fate conveyed with a sense of finality. "I cannot give more information about what you should do. Your journey will be yours to determine. Nevertheless, I extend my best wished to you and hope for your success."


    As Fate''s statement drew to a close, Harry felt a sensation that was difficult to describe, it was as if something was something profound that had suddenly disappeared. He came to the realization that this sensation likely signified that with his decision having been made, Fate had departed from this universe, leaving him to chart his own path unaccompanied.


    Harry realized that his momentum had almost completely dissipated and he noticed that he was no longer above the buildings, but rather he was within one of the houses, floating down towards a bed. As Harry found himself nearing the bed, Harry watched as the pile of sheets moved slightly revealing that the bed was already occupied. Before Harry could fully process this revelation, he witnessed his ''foot'' make contact with the body in the bed.


    In an instant, Harry was struck by a peculiar sensation, as if he had been standing too close to a lightning strike. As this sensation gradually lessened, Harry felt his mind start to fill with new knowledge ¡­ knowledge he knew for a fact he had not learned previously. All of a sudden Harry possessed an understanding of robotics, a comprehension of alien languages, familiarity with tools like a hydrospanner, ¡­ he knew what ¡­


    A profound sense of disorientation washed over Harry as he was roused from his current state when a voice called from another room, a voice that part of him knew he had never heard before and yet another part of him this was the most comforting voice in the world, it was the voice of ¡­ his mother.


    "Ani, come down for breakfast. This is your last chance if you want to eat something before you head off to the shop ¡­"


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    Harry realized that his momentum had almost completely dissipated and he noticed that he was no longer above the buildings, but rather he was within one of the houses, floating down towards a bed. As Harry found himself nearing the bed, Harry watched as the pile of sheets moved slightly revealing that the bed was already occupied. Before Harry could fully process this revelation, he witnessed his ''foot'' make contact with the body in the bed.


    In an instant, Harry was struck by a peculiar sensation, as if he had been standing too close to a lightning strike. As this sensation gradually lessened, Harry felt his mind start to fill with new knowledge ¡­ knowledge he knew for a fact he had not learned previously. All of a sudden Harry possessed an understanding of robotics, a comprehension of alien languages, familiarity with tools like a hydrospanner, ¡­ he knew what ¡­


    A profound sense of disorientation washed over Harry as he was roused from his current state when a voice called from another room, a voice that part of him knew he had never heard before and yet another part of him this was the most comforting voice in the world, it was the voice of ¡­ his mother.


    "Ani, come down for breakfast. This is your last chance if you want to eat something before you head off to the shop ¡­"


    <hr>


    Startled, Harry jolted upright, his gaze darting around the unfamiliar room. He realized that he was now in the very bed that, just moments ago, he had been hovering above. The sheer abruptness of the transition left him momentarily disoriented.


    His eyes scanned the room, in search of the source of the voice that had called out moments ago. Harry''s thoughts swirled as he grappled with the peculiar sensation that had enveloped him. One part of him, the essence that was unmistakably Harry, had never encountered the voice from the other room before. But another aspect of his consciousness, one that eluded his understanding, seemed to house memories that were certainly different from his own experiences. These recollections included fragments of growing up on an alien planet, forming friendships at a young age, and other perplexing fragments of a life he could not recall living.


    A sense of unease settled over Harry as he sat there, frozen in thought, struggling to integrate both parts of himself together. His attention became riveted on the metallic bronze-colored door leading out of the current room, contemplating what he would find on the other side.


    As he starred at the door, an additional rush of memories overwhelmed Harry, vivid recollections of growing up with a mother who was not Lily Potter. Tears welled up in his eyes as his head filled with these emotional and profoundly alien memories. Harry''s heart ached with longing; he was able to understand that the woman in the other room was not the mother he had dreamed of meeting his entire life, but nevertheless, these new memories were undeniable, each one evidence to maternal love and care he had never previously experienced.


    Harry recalled, with striking clarity, the first time he had sustained a significant injury while tumbling down a dune just beyond the borders of the settlement. He could vividly remember the woman rushing to his side, scooping him up in her arms, and tending to him with unwavering devotion until he had fully recovered. He remembered bouts of illness, including something known as the Rodian Flu, and the tender memories of her staying up through the night to ensure his recovery. He recalled times when their resources were scarce, and he ''remembered'' her sacrificing her own portion of food to guarantee that he had enough to eat. Hundreds of such moments filled his thoughts, evoking a emotions that Harry was having trouble dealing with.


    In the midst of processing these new memories, Harry found himself caught between a profound sense of loss ¨C for never having had the opportunity to create such memories with Lily Potter ¨C and a sense of joy at finally experiencing the warmth and care of a mother figure.


    In an effort to regain control of his emotions and prepare for the day ahead, Harry paused, taking a moment to survey "his" room.


    As Harry''s eyes swept over various items in the room, his attention pausing on certain objects as fleeting memories surged through his mind, providing valuable context to his new existence. A fond smile graced his lips as he observed the workbench, strewn with partially constructed projects, each one a testament to his creativity and ingenuity. Plans and schematics for the complex machinery that lay in various stages of assembly flooded his thoughts as he gave the workbench a cursory examination.


    Off to the side of the workbench, his gaze fell upon a protocol droid, a creation, currently in progress, that had been undertaken to assist ''his'' mother, an attempt to repay her for the countless sacrifices she had made to afford him a chance in this life.


    Harry took a step closer to the protocol droid, marveling at the existence of such technology. His previous knowledge of robots had been limited to a few films he had seen back in London when he had been reluctantly dragged to a theater for Dudley''s birthday. Yet, now the sight of the droid triggered memories of advanced mechanical engineering and robotics.


    However, his sense of awe at the new things surrounding him was temporarily eclipsed when his eyes fixated on an object that stirred previous memories. It was a Mokeskin pouch, an item from his life as Harry Potter, rather than this new existence. Harry''s eyes lit up as he realized that it was indeed the very same Mokeskin pouch that Hagrid had gifted him as a birthday gift.


    Unable to contain his excitement, Harry picked up the pouch, his fingers brushing its smooth surface. But, his curiosity was quickly diverted to a piece of aged parchment lying beneath the pouch. The parchment was adorned with writing in a shimmering silver ink, and with a sense of anticipation, Harry hesitantly set aside the pouch and began to read the letter.


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    Harry Potter,


    I wish you luck on the journey you are about to embark on. There will certainly be joy and wonder. Love and friendship. However, there will also be terrible loss and heartache. I hope you are strong enough to bear what will happen and indeed I hope that you will be able to save the galaxy from what is in store for it.


    Inside this pouch are several items that I believe will help you on your way. While you can certainly tell others about the items, I would caution you to not tell anyone of the contents of the bag until you are fully confident of who they are.


    Additionally, while I hope you find your own way forward, I will just suggest that while there are a great many mysteries in the galaxy you find yourself in. I caution you that to date there exists nothing like the magic you have grown up learning ¡­ so while it certainly might make aspects of your life easier, magic will definitely bring attention that you might not be prepared to deal with just yet. But worry not there are ¡­ other mysteries out there in store for you that you will uncover soon.


    As stated previously there will be no more interference or help from me, so you are on your own.


    May these gifts and your memories be helpful in your quest young Harry and May the Force be with you!


    Fate


    <hr>


    Harry scrutinized the letter, his gaze shifting repeatedly over its contents, particularly fixating on the last line. He couldn''t help but wonder if there was a hidden meaning lurking within Fate''s words. "May the Force be with him?" Harry mused, a sense of puzzlement knitting his brows. What was this ''Force'' being alluded to? Why would he wish for this ''Force'' to be on his side?


    After a moment''s contemplation, Harry found himself at an impasse and decided that understanding would likely come in due time. With a casual shrug of his shoulders, he dismissed the immediate mystery and turned his attention to the Mokeskin pouch, eager to discover what items Fate had chosen to bestow upon him.


    Reaching into the pouch, Harry began to rummage through its contents, his fingers brushing against several books that he started to pull out ¡­ only to be arrested when his hand brushed the texture of a familiar object.


    As his hand released the books, allowing them to settle back into the pouch, Harry''s fingers closed around an object of extraordinary familiarity and profound significance. Drawing it forth, he unveiled the item that had captured his attention ¨C the Elder Wand. Harry gazed upon the wand, feeling the comforting warmth radiating from it as the wand''s energy seemed to infuse with him.


    With the wand in his possession, Harry considered the idea of performing a spell, eager to reconnect with the magic he knew so well. However, caution prevailed, as he recollected the words of warning contained in Fate''s letter ¡­ there are a great many mysteries in the galaxy you find yourself in. I caution you that to date there exists nothing like the magic you have grown up learning ¡­ it will definitely bring attention that you might not be prepared to deal with just yet.


    Harry could see the wisdom in the words of caution, recognizing that, until he had a firmer grasp of his peculiar circumstances, it would be wise to refrain from practicing magic, or at the very least, wait until he was certain of privacy to reacquaint himself with the wand. With a hint of reluctance, he returned the Elder Wand to the pouch, relinquishing his immediate connection to the familiar world of spells and incantations. He continued his exploration, curiosity guiding his search for other treasures concealed within the pouch.


    The next item he stumbled upon elicited a warm smile, evoking memories of his father and the adventures that the object had facilitated. Retrieving the Invisibility Cloak, he unfurled it and draped it over his shoulders. The smile on Harry''s face widened, gradually enveloping his entire face as he observed his now concealed form. Memories of sneaking out after curfew with friends and the exhilaration of those adventures flooded back, filling him with a sense of nostalgia. After a moment of reverie, he neatly folded the cloak and returned it to the pouch, his excitement and gratitude still lingering.


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    As his exploration of the pouch continued, Harry''s hand came into contact with a series of objects so familiar that they didn''t require extraction to identify. The handle of a broomstick ¨C his Firebolt! he realized with a thrill of recognition. A golden snitch, the unmistakable shape of the Resurrection Stone nestled within the Gaunt Ring, and an array of other treasured items that had played pivotal roles in his past adventures. Each discovery rekindled a flood of memories and associations, further underscoring the extraordinary nature of the gift he had received from Fate.


    As Harry continued his exploration of the pouch, he came across an item that was entirely unfamiliar to him. His fingers brushed against a heavy leather cover, realizing the object was bound with a piece of twine. Intrigued, he decided to withdraw it from the pouch to inspect it more closely. As the item emerged from the depths of the pouch, Harry realized it was a small folder. Curiosity piqued, he carefully undid the bow and began to open the folder.


    The moment he peered inside, Harry was almost overcome with emotion. The first folder contained photos, the first of which was a picture of Ron, Hermione, and himself, all captured in a moment of pure joy, smiling and waving. He raised the picture slowly, his eyes welling with tears as he gazed at his best friends, knowing he might never see them again, yet taking solace in the knowledge that they would continue to live, and that they would be okay.


    With a mixture of reluctance and longing, Harry set the photo down and moved on to the next one. If the previous picture had nearly brought tears to his eyes, this one succeeded in making him drop to his knees. Before him lay an image of his parents, along with a young Sirius and Remus, all of them wearing bright smiles and engaged in joyful laughter. The photograph depicted an infant Harry soaring around the room near the ceiling on a miniature broomstick. The emotional weight of the picture was almost overwhelming, leaving Harry to grapple with a sense of longing, grief, and profound love for the family he had lost but could now cherish through these captured moments.


    Gazing at the photograph, Harry''s heart ached with the realization that all four of the individuals in the image had given their lives to ensure his survival. He understood that, while he hadn''t been able to fulfill their hopes, he himself had also made the ultimate sacrifice so that those he loved could go on living. The weight of this knowledge weighed on him, but he also harbored a fervent hope that, despite the unexpected turns of fate, they would be proud of the choices he had made.


    With tenderness, Harry rested his fingers on the photo just above his parents, his smile filled with a silent promise. He vowed to make the most of this new life, leaving a legacy that would honor their memory and hopefully bring them a sense of pride.


    Slowly flipping through the rest of the photos, he was greeted by the familiar faces of Neville and Luna, Ginny and the Twins, Professor McGonagall, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and many more beloved figures from his past. Each image stirred cherished memories and instilled a profound sense of pride. His friends ¡­ his family ¡­ had persevered, making the most of his sacrifice and emerging victorious.


    Eventually, Harry decided that he had experienced enough of the emotional roller coaster ride. He carefully returned all the photos to the folder and tied it closed, making a silent promise to revisit these precious memories when he needed a reminder of home, a source of strength, or guidance for the mission that lay ahead.


    For even though this was not his galaxy, Harry was acutely aware that it teemed with countless individuals, each of them deserving the chance to live a life free from tyranny, just as he had hoped for his loved ones in his own world.


    As he carefully placed the folder back into the pouch, Harry''s hand once again brushed against the stack of books. This time, he decided to withdraw them and examine the subjects they covered. However, his curiosity was abruptly interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps outside his room.


    In a swift motion, he set the pouch on his workbench and took a step back, pivoting to face the door. With a soft, nervous breath, he watched the door slide open, revealing the source of the approaching sound.


    "Ani ... for the last time, you need to eat a little bit before you head off to the shop," a voice gently chided. "You know Watto does not always ..."


    The rest of her sentence was abruptly cut off by a little boy who, quite enthusiastically, darted across the room and flung himself into her arms, embracing her tightly in a bear hug.


    Startled but clearly pleased, the woman paused and gazed down at the boy, her smile growing as she returned his affectionate hug. "Well, good morning to you as well, my little Ani. This is certainly a nice treat. You don''t always greet me this way."


    Harry took a step back, his heart full of emotion. Although he knew deep down that this woman was not his own mother, he felt a profound affection welling up within him ¡ª the same affection that the boy, Ani, had for her. When coupled with the lingering grief over the loss of his own mother, Harry was overwhelmed by his emotions. He found himself unable to resist the impulse that had driven him across the room to embrace the woman who, in this moment, felt like his mother.


    As Harry held the woman in his embrace, he reflected on the complex mixture of emotions swirling within him. Deep inside, he sensed something more than mere memories from another life. It struck him that perhaps, instead of entirely replacing the boy Ani, Fate had somehow fused their existence.


    Recognizing that this was a matter he would need to ponder more deeply at a later time, Harry refocused on the woman standing before him, a deep sense of affection enveloping him. He knew that he wouldn''t be able to think of her in any other way, at least for now. He also recalled that she had come into the room for a specific reason.


    "Sorry ¡­ Mom ¡­," he began, his voice filled with sincerity. "I''m awake now and ready to come out. I was just looking at some things." He waved his hand absentmindedly toward the workbench behind him.


    She looked down at him with an empathetic, gentle smile, recognizing this excuse as a familiar refrain from him. "I imagined as much, Ani," she responded warmly, her tone filled with maternal affection. "Remember, there''s nothing wrong with indulging in what you enjoy, even for us. But there are always responsibilities that we must attend to. For example, you should have something to eat before you begin your day." Her laughter, light and affectionate, accompanied her warm smile. After delivering this gentle reminder, she turned and made her way out of the room, presumably to start preparing her own breakfast, leaving him to join her at his own pace.


    Understanding that he had little choice at the moment, Harry shrugged his shoulders and decided to follow her, carefully exiting the room through the mechanical sliding door.


    As he entered the kitchen, Harry found his mother busy at work, serving a thick, paste-like substance into bowls. The concoction resembled porridge in appearance, yet it possessed the rather unappetizing consistency ¡­ and smell ¡­ of sludge.


    "Umm ... Mom ..." Harry began tentatively.


    She looked up from her own bowl, her eyes filled with concern. "Yes, Ani?"


    He hesitated and then shook his head, deciding not to voice his concern. Instead, he reluctantly joined her at the table, his gaze locked onto the bowl of what he presumed qualified for food in this unfamiliar world.


    With a distinct lack of enthusiasm, he scooped up a spoonful of the mush before him. He raised the spoon to his mouth cautiously, inspecting the unappetizing substance with great scrutiny, half hoping that something might intervene to spare him from the task. Alas, there was no such reprieve, and he eventually placed the spoonful into his mouth, pausing momentarily and rejoicing as he detected the absence of any discernible taste.


    After he had finished chewing the unappetizing concoction, Harry let out a sigh of relief. The food, or whatever it was, was thankfully devoid of taste, utterly flavorless. It appeared to be nothing more than a cheap, industrial-grade nutritional filler. As he reflected on Ani''s past memories, Harry decided he would gladly take this tasteless gruel over some of the bizarre food-like substances that were to be encountered in this world. From his recollections, there were several culinary oddities here that he had no desire to sample.


    With the first bite out of the way, Harry focused on the task at hand and hurriedly devoured his meal, hoping to preempt any conversation with his mother. Despite his best efforts, his actions were in vain. As he neared the end of his bowl, he looked up to find his mother smiling at him.


    "Well, look at you go. I think I now know what a rancor on a diet looks like after a meal," she said with a chuckle.


    Harry paused and set his empty bowl down in front of him. "Sorry, Mom," he began earnestly. "I was hungry and wanted to get the day started. I didn''t want to be late."


    "We still have a little bit of time before we need to head out," his mother said, her tone warm and reassuring. "I''ll be accompanying you to the shop today. Watto wants me to clean around the shop instead of his dwelling. It seems his slave in the shop is incredibly capable but not very keen on keeping things tidy," she added with a smile.


    As he processed her words, a sudden unpleasant jolt ran through Harry. His mind raced, grappling with this newfound information. His thoughts spun in disbelief. ''A slave... he worked for someone who owned a slave.'' He was about to respond, but the implications of his mother''s words washed over him, and his expression shifted to one of shock. ''He was a slave? They were slaves?''


    In this moment of realization, Harry dropped his spoon in astonishment, the utensil clattering against the bowl before falling to the floor. He feigned the act of picking up the spoon to conceal the turmoil of emotions surging within him. His mind was a whirlwind as he grappled with the memories that had suddenly been unlocked.


    He was indeed a slave, laboring for a bizarre, winged alien named Watto in a salvage shop filled with mechanical parts and debris. As the realization settled in, Harry''s stomach churned with discomfort. He couldn''t help but wonder if Fate had a specific mission for him on this planet, perhaps involving the abolition of slavery. But as he contemplated the idea, he began to doubt its simplicity. While he found slavery abhorrent and he really couldn''t wrap his head around the notion of being someone''s property. He suspected that there was something even more sinister or complex at play, prompting Fate to intervene and bring him to this galaxy. This chilling thought sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn''t dismiss the nagging feeling that his presence here was about more than just ending slavery.


    Harry sat back down, his appetite gone, and sought solace in the memory of Watto, who, despite his demanding nature, had never subjected him to the kind of physical or psychological torment he had endured with the Dursleys. He found a glimmer of hope in this fact, grateful for his mother''s presence in this alien world, a stark contrast to his lonely and tormented existence back in Surrey.


    As he contemplated his situation, Harry''s resolve solidified. He was determined to spend his days gathering information and devising a plan, with the ultimate goal of escaping this planet as soon as possible. Though he still didn''t fully grasp why Fate had brought him here, he was certain that he couldn''t resign himself to a life as a slave. With ¡­ a new hope ¡­ and a sense of optimism, he looked up at his mother and said, "That sounds great. I''m ready to go whenever you are!"


    <hr>


    Kind Regards,


    FavoriteAuthor


    <hr>


    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 giving support.

 Harrys First Podrace

    The first couple of weeks on this alien world proved to be an incredible experience for Harry. It semed that right before Harry came into the world as Anakin, he had recently survived a harrowing pod race, which seemed to be a death-defying ordeal. A mid-race altercation with his rival, Sebulba, had led to a crash that, against all odds, Anakin miraculously survived, much to Sebulba''s disapointment. In the world of pod racing, where accidents were usually fatal, surviving even a single incident like this was an impressive feat. Yet Harry''s new memories revealed that Anakin had not only survived one such crash but had walked away from five different accidents, each seemingly more deadly than the last.


    Harry suspected that it was Anakin''s uncanny and almost supernatural senses that allowed him to not only survive these life-threatening accidents but also compete in a sport seemingly dominated by alien competitors. These extraterrestrial racers possessed physical advantages, such as extra limbs, additional eyes, or unique physiological traits, which granted them the upper hand on the racing track ¨C advantages that humans lacked. Harry couldn''t help but marvel at Anakin''s resilience and extraordinary abilities as he adjusted to the quirks and challenges of this unfamiliar world.


    Due to the recent pod race crash, Watto, Anakin''s owner and employer, had tasked him with repairing the battered pod racer in preparation for the next race Anakin was entered into.


    Meeting Watto on his very first day in this alien world, Harry couldn''t help but compare the blue-skinned alien to the memories of his dreadful uncle and aunt. Although slavery was still a grim reality in this place, Watto appeared to be less cruel than Harry''s abusive relatives. Nevertheless, Harry felt a strong aversion to any form of servitude, and he knew that, regardless of his original purpose for being here, he was determined to eventually find a way to end the practice of slavery on this planet.


    In the following weeks, apart from tending to the pod racer. Watto recognized the value of Harry''s now exceptional engineering skills, began using Harry to meet with potential clients, utilizing his expertise to diagnose their needs. Once Harry had performed his assessments, Watto would step in to negotiate and sell whatever he could offer to his potential client.


    It was during these conversations that Harry started noticing another surprising ability. One he had originally discounted when he noticed it when conversing with Watto, as he had wondered if it was somehow related to Watto''s alien physiology. However, when Harry had met the first client, a fellow human, he was shocked to realize he could suddenly discerned the person''s intentions while in close proximity. Drawing from memories of Anakin''s discovery of the ability, Harry decided it would be best to keep this ability to himself. He knew that advertising such a skill might lead to stigmatization or exploitation, so he kept it hidden, using it discreetly when needed.


    Beyond sensing intentions, Harry was also surprised to find that he had inherited some unexplained extrasensory precognitive perceptions. One evening, as he diligently worked on Anakin''s secret project, trying to link up auxiliary power couplings to maintain a steady energy output, he experienced a peculiar feeling. He ''sensed'' his mother approaching, prompting him to turn and greet her, assuming he had heard her footsteps. However, as he spun around, his mother was nowhere in sight. A moment of confusion settled in before the door to the room opened, and his mother entered, calling him to supper.


    In the beginning, Harry dismissed these experiences as mere coincidences, attributing them to random happenstance. However, over the following weeks, these moments of intuition became more frequent, particularly when he found himself under stress. These inexplicable feelings enabled him to anticipate events and people''s intentions. Initially, the disorienting nature of these sensations left him ignoring them as often as he trusted them.


    <hr>


    Two weeks into his life on this new world, Harry found himself in the cluttered salvage shop, where he had recently concluded a transaction with a customer. As he was tidying up, the distinct approach of Watto, his alien owner, grew louder, and the next words out of Watto''s mouth took him by surprise.


    "You will race tomorrow, boy!"


    Harry''s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected exclamation from Watto. This was unexpected for a couple of reasons. Firstly, ever since Anakin''s last race, Watto had shown some reluctance to have his slave participate in pod races, at least unless the potential prize was substantial. Secondly, it was only that very morning that Harry had finished repairing the podracer, and they hadn''t even had the chance to test it yet.


    In addition to the unexpectedness of Watto''s announcement, Harry couldn''t help but feel extremely apprehensive about the idea of participating in an actual podrace. Everything he had gathered about podracing, including his own memories, indicated that it was exponentially more perilous than even his most harrowing experiences on a broomstick, like his life-threatening encounter with a Hungarian Horntail during the Triwizard Tournament, which he had been lucky to walk away from. Anakin may have possessed an uncanny knack for surviving these high-speed high-stake races, but in a sport where casualties were tragically common, Harry was acutely aware that his good fortune might run out, especially given that he had never even tried podracing before.


    "Would it be alright if I took the podracer for a practice run tonight? Just to ensure it''s in perfect working condition," Harry inquired, hoping to at least get practice in beforehand.


    Watto let out what sounded like a derisive laugh, "Oba chee ka? You got any idea what a practice run costs? It''s almost as expensive as entering you into the actual race. No, I won''t be paying for you just to practice."


    Harry''s shoulders slumped in resignation. He realized there was little he could say or do at this point to escape the impending race. "If you''re certain, Watto..."


    "Yes, I''m sure, and you better take good care of that podracer this time. I''m tired of constantly shelling out credits for parts to fix it. Try not to get it damaged this time," Watto instructed. Noticing someone entering the shop Watto pointed. "Oh, a customer. Go see what they want and call me if they are seriously interested in buying something," he commanded, as he turned and flew off in the direction of his office.


    "Ah fidget." Harry muttered the curse under his breath, a phrase he had picked up from some of the local boys. He turned and walked over to the tall Ithorian customer who appeared somewhat out of place amidst the scrap of the shop. "Hello, how can I assist you today..."


    After finishing the day''s tasks at the salvage shop, Harry stepped out into the dry evening heat of Tatooine, securing his scarf around the lower part of his face to shield himself from the blowing sand.


    Harry had barely taken five steps when he felt an intuitive nudge that two figures were rapidly approaching from behind ¡­ two familiar figures ¡­ Turning around with a welcoming smile, Harry greeted his two friends who had been attempting to sneak up on him. "Kitster! Wald! Good to see you! What are you up to?"


    Kitster, a fellow human slave, rose from his crouch with a sigh. "Awe fidget, Ani. How do you always do that? One of these days we''ll catch you off guard. Wanna come hang out? Wald and I were thinking of trying to sneak into one of the cantinas to chat with the pilots and spacers."


    "Sorry guys, I wish I could." Harry said as he glanced back and forth between his friends. He realized he genuinely meant it. While they were not Ron and Hermione, and despite the age gap between them and Harry''s 17-year-old mind, Kitster and Wald were incredibly fun to hang out with and were genuinely good-ish individuals.


    Kitster raised an eyebrow, looking curious.


    Harry explained further, "Yeah ¡­ Watto wants me to race tomorrow, and I promised my mom this morning that I would be home for dinner. Don''t want to be late if I am racing tomorrow."


    "That''s awesome Ani! Maybe I''ll see if I can sneak out of my duties and watch the race." Kitster said with a grin.


    Wald nodded, his large head bobbing up and down, "Best of luck, Ani. Hope you don''t die."


    Kitster chimed in, his excitement palpable, "Definitely not. I have been stashing away all the druggats I have found to place a bet on you. The Boonta Eve Classic is coming up and as long as you are in the race, I will bet on you with one of the offworlders. They always bet against a human managing to survive, so even if you don''t win there are good odds for betting that you will survive."


    Harry, while appreciating the vote of confidence from his friend, offered a somewhat strained smile in response. "I''ll give it my all to stay alive until then. But I''m not sure if Watto will grant me permission to race."


    Wald chimed in with an air of assurance, "Don''t worry, Ani. If the pod''s in good shape, Watto will let you race. There is too much betting to not participate in the Boonta Eve Classic. You''ve got a natural talent for podracing, and if you were to employ just a bit of ''creative strategy'' like all of the other racers do, there''d be no stopping you."


    Harry couldn''t help but smile, recognizing that this was a familiar conversation that had occurred between the friends before. "I know, I know, you guys have said it all before, but if I''m going to win, it''ll be a victory without any cheating. I want to win in a way that leaves no room for complaints or challenges. Just think about what Sebulba would do if I won by cheating ... So, until Watto makes up his mind about whether I''m racing in the Boonta Eve Classic, I''ll do my best to stay alive. But I''ll focus on tomorrow''s race first."


    His declaration elicited laughter from both Kitster and Wald. Kitster then gave him an understanding look and said, "That''s a fair point, Ani. Best of luck tomorrow, and don''t forget to say hello to your mom for us."


    With a friendly farewell, Kitster and Wald turned on their heels, making their way toward the closest cantina, their jovial laughter slowly fading into the distance. Harry watched them depart, a tinge of disappointment lingering as he pondered the missed opportunity to join his friends. Yet, he was determined not to rely solely on Anakin''s prior knowledge of podracing and his innate instincts.


    As the twin suns cast their long shadows over the desert landscape, Harry resolved to spend most of the night delving into the intricacies of podracing. His goal was to gain a deeper understanding and become more at ease with the sport before the imminent race. He realized that if he survived the ordeal and managed not to make a complete fool of himself, he could consider it a triumph.


    The following morning, Harry faced the challenge of getting out of bed after only managing a mere two standard hours of sleep. He had reluctantly torn himself away from the holoscreen late in the night, recognizing the need for a bit of rest before the high-stakes race.


    As he sat down at the table, fatigue weighing him down, his mothing noticed his condition.


    "Oh, Ani, didn''t you sleep at all last night? You look absolutely exhausted," his mother, Shmi, observed with a hint of concern in her voice.


    Harry managed a weary smile, still adjusting to the presence of the maternal personality. "I tried, Mom. I think I was just a bit more nervous than usual about today''s race."


    Shmi''s face displayed a mix of sympathy and worry. "Oh, Ani, that''s not good at all. Is there any way we can talk to Watto and maybe find a way out of it?"


    Harry shook his head, the weariness evident in his movements. This conversation, too, was a well-worn path he traveled many times before. But as he knew all too well, once Watto made up his mind that Anakin was going to race, there was no turning back. Especially not on the morning of the race, with Watto having already shelled out a substantial entrance fee. The reality was that Watto had little incentive to pay someone else when he had Anakin, who would race for free.


    "I''ll be fine, Mom, I always am. It was just a rough night''s sleep," Harry reassured her, though his attempt to sound nonchalant did little to ease the concern etched on her face.


    "If you''re certain ... I''ll be in the stands, watching, as always."


    Harry nodded, well aware that there was no convincing her otherwise, a part of him excited by the aspect of having a parent in the stand watching his race.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    <hr>


    Sitting in the pod at the starting line, Harry could feel the thrum of electric energy coursing through the powerlines beneath him, resulting in microvibrations that resonated through the pod. It was as though the entire world around him was gradually slowing down, a sensation reminiscent of those moments just before a Quidditch match, albeit magnified many times over. In this heightened state, he found himself observing the world with an increased clarity. Individual grains of sand seemed suspended in mid-air, the once-blurred engine rotors on a neighboring podracer became distinctly visible, and the continuous buzz of microvibrations through his ship resolved into a discernible, rhythmic pattern.


    Harry couldn''t help but shake his head, once more wondering about the origin of this extraordinary ability. Was it a genetic predisposition, or perhaps some gift from Fate to help him with the trials ahead?


    Realizing that he could ill afford to be distracted at this moment, Harry redirected his focus to the course before him. The support crews scrambled off the track, responding to some unseen signal that heralded the imminent start of the race.


    As Harry heard the announcements to start the engines being translated into several different languages for all the racers, he prepared to engage the engines. Excitement surged within him, his fingers quivering with anticipation as they hovered over the ignition button.


    ''Gong''


    The resounding sound pierced the air, resonating across the entire field and stadium, a universal signal that the race was beginning. In that electrifying moment, Harry''s fingers struck the button with a burst of energy. The distinct roar of his engines resounded, mingling with the intense heat radiating from his own podracer and the immediate heat surge from the nearby pods. The sensations were both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.


    As the pod rocketed forward, Harry was thrust forcefully backward into his seat, the sheer acceleration generating a grin that stretched across his face. The rush of speed and the raw power of the podracer were undeniable, and he couldn''t help but revel in the sensation.


    "Well... this is going to be a blast," he thought aloud to himself, adrenaline surging through his veins.


    In what seemed like a heartbeat, Harry had already surged past the nearby pods, leaving them in his wake. To his astonishment, he found himself in second place as they shot off the starting line. The racer in the lead was a diminutive, insect-like alien, a creature with a staggering eight limbs, six of which were in a frenzied dance, expertly manipulating the pod''s myriad buttons and levers. The alien''s meticulous control was clearly aimed at extracting every last drop of potential from the pod''s engine, setting the stage for an exhilarating race to the end.


    In the midst of the race, a peculiar twinge of instinct tugged at Harry''s senses. Having started to be accustomed to trusting these unsettling sensations, he didn''t hesitate and promptly acted on his gut feeling. With swift decisiveness, he adjusted the course of his podracer, altering its trajectory by a distance of approximately two pod lengths.


    Less than a heartbeat later, the maneuver he''d initiated bore fruit. He watched as Sebulba, his gesticulating rival, whizzed past, occupying the very space he had vacated just moments earlier. The near-miss sent a rush of adrenaline through Harry''s veins, reminding him of the razor-thin margins between victory and defeat in the world of podracing.


    Determined to stay focused on the long and grueling race ahead, Harry opted not to overreact or engage in a physical confrontation with Sebulba, whose racer was slightly larger than the one Watto had entrusted to him. Instead, he gritted his teeth and skillfully settled into the draft stream created by Sebulba''s pod. This strategic move allowed him to conserve the energy of his engines, biding his time until the moment he could make his move, all while remaining poised and vigilant in the heat of the race.


    Over the next ten minutes, Harry proceeded through the race with a sense of cautious enthusiasm. Well, relatively cautious, for in that brief time span, he had come to realize that podracing was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. The velocity at which he hurtled through the course was beyond anything he''d experienced, surpassing even the fastest broomsticks in the Wizarding World. The sheer breakneck speeds left him breathless and exhilarated.


    The track itself was a completely different beast, unlike any terrain he had ever navigated. It demanded pilots to skim just feet above the ground, weaving amidst a rugged landscape peppered with boulders the size of Hagrid''s hut. The racers careened through dimly lit tunnels, where visibility was virtually non-existent, and negotiated treacherous slopes that plunged at almost vertical angles.


    Nevertheless, no matter how daunting the challenges Harry encountered on this treacherous course, he couldn''t suppress the smile that crept across his face. The sheer exhilaration of the task at hand, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, and the unmistakable sense of adventure that podracing provided was something he had never known before. The Wizarding World''s most daring Quidditch matches couldn''t hold a candle to this heart-pounding thrill.


    During the initial phase of the race, Harry had managed to keep relatively close to the front-runners. Yet, it was becoming increasingly evident that his ability to stay in the race was due largely to his own piloting skills. His pod, while sturdy and well-maintained, seemed outmatched in terms of speed, size, and maneuverability when compared to the sleek and nimble racers of both Sebulba and the insect-like alien who had managed to maintain a consistent lead.


    Twice during the race, Harry''s uncanny instincts warned him of competitors making moves from behind, actions that posed no immediate threat to his position. In both instances, he chose to let these racers execute their maneuvers, partly to assess their capabilities and partly to gauge how the current frontrunners would respond. However, in both cases, he bore witness to Sebulba''s ruthlessness, as the Dug racer brutally dealt with the attempts to overtake him.


    The first challenger, who had attempted to overtake Sebulba, ended up careening into a cliff wall, after Sebulba slammed the weight of his engine into their pod, their podracer reduced to a crumpled heap. The second, daring competitor, who had tried to pass Sebulba and had likewise been on the receiving end of an unfortunate collision, saw one of their engines violently detach from their pod. This resulted in a chaotic spin that sent their racer into a perilous and uncontrolled spiral, narrowly missing Harry''s own pod before careening in the opposite direction, colliding with a racer further back in the field.


    At this point, it seemed that no racer in the field was daring or desperate enough to make a move to overtake Sebulba, especially in the face of the merciless tactics he employed to maintain his position. The tension on the course remained palpable, as the field remained wary of Sebulba''s retaliatory brutality.


    As they approached the midpoint of the second lap, Harry and the rest of the racers found themselves navigating a gentle leftward curve, situated at the base of a colossal cliff face. Harry''s sharp eyes followed Sebulba''s maneuver as the Dug pilot veered right, attempting to create a trajectory that would overtake the race leader.


    Just as Sebulba reached the pinnacle of his arc, a subtle sputter emanated from his podracer''s engine, a telltale sign of impending trouble. The Dug racer began to lose ground on the race leader, and a knowing smile graced Harry''s face. This was the opening he had been waiting for, the opportunity to seize control.


    Swiftly, Harry adjusted his podracer to the left, setting his sights on the narrow window of opportunity between the cliff wall and the leader. An odd twinge of unease nagged at him, a momentary doubt that almost gave him pause. He darted a quick glance around, searching for any potential threats, but found none. Deciding to trust his first thought and recognizing the limited window of time he had, he pushed aside the lingering uncertainty.


    Harry knew that if he wanted to capitalize on this fleeting chance, he had to act without delay. The opening between the cliff and the leader was rapidly closing, and he had mere seconds to make his move and propel himself into the race lead.


    Harry found himself caught in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Nevertheless, he steeled himself and made the decision to go for it. With unwavering determination, he engaged the full thrust of his engines, feeling the familiar surge of acceleration propelling him forward once more. The gap between him and the leader gradually shrank as they approached the impending curve, and he couldn''t help but hold his breath in anticipation.


    Thirty meters...


    Twenty meters...


    It was an exhilarating race for the lead, and Harry was convinced he was on the brink of overtaking the front-runner. But then, the unmistakable sensation of worry and unease surged within him, threatening to disrupt his focus. It was so overwhelming that he nearly lost control of his podracer, and panic set in.


    Risking a quick, sidelong glance to his right, Harry''s eyes widened in shock and realization. There, a few meters away, a chuckling Sebulba was deftly maneuvering his left engine, wedging it between Harry''s right engine and the pod. This cunning move effectively trapped him, with the podracer''s powerful engine poised to immobilize his own. In that precarious moment, Harry found himself caught in Sebulba''s relentless grip, a prisoner of the Dug''s cunning and ruthless tactics.


    For a full second, Harry was paralyzed, his mind racing to process the inexplicable events unfolding before him. Unconscious reactions kicked in as he grappled with what had occurred. He tried to process the notion that Sebulba had somehow managed to cycle through his engines after losing power.


    Then, a sudden epiphany struck him like a lightning bolt. It had been a ruse, a cleverly orchestrated act of deception. There was no engine trouble; Sebulba had merely redirected power from his engines into an illegal afterburner. This maneuver created the illusion of power loss while, simultaneously, storing energy to be unleashed when needed and immediately make up for any lost ground.


    These afterburners were considered contraband in the world of podracing, forbidden for a simple but harrowing reason. Most individuals'' physiologies could not withstand the immediate and brutal surge in speed, a factor that had led to countless fatalities among those who attempted to use them. Survival was a rare exception, occurring in roughly one in a hundred cases. However, Sebulba''s unique physiology appeared to be an exception to the rule, allowing him to harness the lethal power of the afterburner without peril.


    Harry berated himself internally for falling into Sebulba''s trap. He had allowed himself to be goaded into overcommitting, putting himself in this position. He felt like a fool for dismissing his initial instincts. The twinge of unease had been a warning he should have heeded. He resisted the urge to bang his head against the control column, painfully aware that he should have trusted his feelings ¡­ he knew them to be true.


    However, he couldn''t afford to dwell on his mistake. If he was to have any hope of surviving this predicament, he needed to focus on the present moment. He felt the larger, more powerful podracer of Sebulba''s gradually, inexorably pushing his own pod toward the cliff face. It inched closer and closer, a steady march toward an imminent collision.


    At this point, Harry recognized the dire predicament he was in. Sebulba''s pod outclassed his in almost every conceivable aspect, making escape from the impending impact with the wall seem all but impossible. The harsh reality was that he was at the mercy of Sebulba''s relentless tactics, and his chances of coming out unscathed were growing increasingly dim.


    Aware of the desperate circumstances, Harry knew that his only option was to attempt a maneuver so absurd, so outrageous, that even Sebulba would dismiss it as a futile and reckless endeavor. With the seconds ticking away, he dared to steal another glimpse at his opponent.


    As their eyes locked, Harry couldn''t help but notice the malevolent smirk etched on Sebulba''s face. It was a grim reminder of the impending doom Harry faced. In a last-ditch effort, he exaggeratedly moved to disconnect power from his engines. He hoped that Sebulba, observing this movement, would instinctively slow down, believing that Harry was making a desperate move to cut power to avoid crashing into the cliff wall by dropping back.


    However, while it appeared that Harry had cut off power to both engines, in reality, he had intentionally shut down the right engine while simultaneously channeling all available power into the left engine, creating an explosive burst of acceleration. It was a risky gambit, one that he was sure would either propel him to safety or end in a catastrophic failure. But it was a move born of necessity and a refusal to surrender to Sebulba''s strategy.


    Unprepared for Harry''s daring maneuver, Sebulba was slow to react, momentarily caught off guard. Harry watched with bated breath as his pod began to inch forward, freeing itself from the treacherous squeeze between Sebulba''s pod and the unforgiving cliff face. However, as only one engine was actively powering his pod while the other functioned essentially as an oversized rudder, the outcome wasn''t as smooth as he had hoped.


    His pod veered at an almost ninety-degree angle, heading directly into the path of Sebulba''s oncoming racer. Harry''s heart raced as he leaned forward, struggling to increase the output to both engines. The tension and anxiety that had gripped him before paled in comparison to the sheer panic and urgency he felt now. It was as if time had slowed to a crawl as he watched himself inching forward in what felt like slow motion.


    Harry''s gaze darted to his right, where the menacing pod of his opponent, piloted by the ever-grinning Sebulba, bore down on him. Sebulba seemed almost eager at the prospect of plowing right through his rival. Just when it seemed that Harry might successfully pass by Sebulba''s right engine and evade the impending collision completely, a hiccup rippled through his own engine. It was a momentary but critical loss of power, and in a race where inches meant everything, it proved to be all the margin that fate required.


    In a flash, everything seemed to speed up, and Harry braced for the inevitable impact. The tremendous force of Sebulba''s engine crashing into the rear of Harry''s pod sent violent shockwaves reverberating through his entire body.


    Whether it was the result of the collision''s violent jolt, the effects of the daring maneuver Harry had executed, a static discharge between the pods, or a cruel act of a power beyond his comprehension, Harry couldn''t say. However, he was suddenly confronted with a nightmarish sight. In a horrifying twist of fate, both of his engines lost their magnetic cohesion, and the Steelton cables that tethered them to the pod snapped, launching the powerful engines off into the unforgiving expanse of the Dune Sea.


    Deprived of the propulsive force of his engines, there was no means to even attempt to regain control of the pod following the collision. Harry helplessly watched as the world outside the pod disintegrated into a chaotic, disorienting blur. Gravity seeming to pull him in different directions all at once, without the safety straps Harry had no doubt he would have been ejected from the pod at an incredible velocity.


    Amid the calamity, the agonizing sounds of metal crunching and glass panels shattering filled his ears. Desperately, Harry reached out in an attempt to stabilize himself, to anchor onto anything within his reach as he was tossed about within the pod''s confines.


    Time seemed to slow down, but yet it seemed as if everything outside of the pod had sped up. Then, in a sudden and unexpected moment, Harry''s head collided with one of the cushioned metal support beams inside the pod. It was a harsh impact, and he mercifully lost consciousness, spared from the harrowing turmoil that had overtaken him.


    <hr>


    Kind Regards,


    FavoriteAuthor


    <hr>


    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.

 Star Wars Cantina

    Harry watched as two men in robes were surrounded by a small army of droids before they pulled light swords out of their cloaks and fought off the droids before running down an extremely utilitarian hallway which appeared to be made solely of metal ¡­ this blurred a little and the next thing Harry saw was the same two men swimming through the water before finding an underwater city full of aliens that neither Anakin nor Harry had seen before ¡­ as this image faded it was replaced by the most gorgeous woman he could have imagined. Unfortunately she to faded away and the images began speeding by, barely giving Harry time to recognize what he was seeing. A beautiful green and blue planet with armies on both sides of a field ¡­ a giant battle in space ¡­ a world filled with water, rain, and lightning ¡­ full courtyards of identical soldiers marching into large spaceships ¡­ He saw an epic battle with the light swords on a planet of lava and rocks ¡­ he saw love and hope ¡­ death and betrayal ¡­ and then everything disappeared and a cloaked figure was in front of Harry staring at him speculatively from under the hood, Harry was unsure how long he was being inspected before the individual threw back his head and released a truly evil laugh and was surrounded by lightening that seemed to originate from the figures finger tips.


    It was this figure that finally woke Harry from his dreams, as he sat up quickly and looked around trying to figure out where he was. His dream quickly starting to fade until Harry was only left with a few memories of what he had seen.


    The first thing he realized was that he was sore all over, a fact, he realized, that had not been aided in the slightest by sitting up as quickly as he had. As Harry looked around he recognized he was in his room, recognizing the workbench and the partially completed protocol droid.


    Pausing to relax, Harry tried to remember exactly how he had gotten here, not remembering going to bed the previous night.


    Slowly images came back to him, his excitement over his first podrace ¡­ an opportunity to sneak into first place ¡­ the realization it was a ruse ¡­ and then the crash.


    Remembering the crash, Harry let his hands roam all over his body checking to make sure he was alright. Finding nothing obvious he let out a slight sigh of relief and lounged back against the wall, not feeling any desire to leave the bed.


    As he thought back on the race and what he should have done differently, he heard the door slide open as a familiar presence entered the room.


    "Oh Ani, you are awake! Thank the Suns! I brought some broth to sit by you and wait. Did you want this bowl, I''ll grab another."


    Realizing he was hungry. Harry reluctantly nodded his head. "Thanks mom, how long was I out?"


    A look of pain momentarily crossed her face before she managed to get a grip on her physical display of her emotions, "You were out for a full day after that crash."


    Harry looked at her in surprise as it didn''t feel like a full day. "Sorry about that, I did not mean for the race to end up that way. Sebulba had an illegal part ¡­"


    "Ani, it does not matter! You are too old to be making excuses!"


    Harry starred at his mom, surprised by her angry outburst.


    "You are competing in a sport that is incredibly dangerous, there are no other humans who are capable of what you do and yet you do it ¡­ and then you make errors in judgement like that ¡­ of course Sebulba was going to do something that bordered on cheating ¡­ how many more times are you going to misjudge an opponent just to barely walk away from a crash ¡­ before you ¡­ before you don''t."


    Harry realized her anger was borne out of concern and his heart broke as her voice cracked at the end of her sentence and she started crying.


    Ignoring the pain in his body he leaned forward and embraced his mother. "I am so sorry mom, I will not look to race anymore."


    She wiped her eyes as she regained her composure and scoffed, "If only that was true, however maybe there is a chance, small as it may be, that Watto will stop using you in races. Everyone who witnessed the crash was surprised when the medi-droids got to the pod and found you alive, they all agree it was a miracle you did not die or have any of your limbs irreparably damaged."


    Harry gulped and relooked at all his limbs, realizing that perhaps the crash was more significant than he had thought and perhaps he was luckier than he had thought to have ''walked'' away from the crash.


    His mother continued, "And ¡­ Watto was furious about you crashing again. Although when the medi-droids found you alive and said you would be alright, I saw a flicker of happiness on his expression before he started complaining about the race."


    "However, you will likely not be racing for a while at least."


    Harry looked up at her, questioningly.


    "Watto was quite upset over the damage that the podracer sustained, at least three times he voiced concerns aloud that it might not even be worth bringing the pod back to the shop and might be worth just leaving it there."


    Harry winced, thinking about how unpleasant Watto would be over the damage sustained to the racer.


    "On top of that, it took Watto the better part of yesterday afternoon to head out into the Dune Sea to find the engine that separated from the pod and rocketed off the track. It sure felt like he was unhappy with the idea of you racing."


    It was Harry''s turn to scoff, "I imagine that as soon as I am able to walk, he will have me back at work fixing the podracer. And I don''t want to get your hopes up mom, but I can''t imagine it will be too long once the repairs are complete before he will have me signed up in another race."


    The hope which had been building on his mom''s face as she talked, disappeared, "Oh ¡­ but Ani ¡­ it''s so dangerous ¡­ surely Watto must realize you are more important than just as a podracer."


    "I know mom, but it is a lot easier to find mechanics or shop boys than to find someone who can race a podracer ¡­ and Watto does not even have to pay me for the risks with podracing. I don''t really have a choice."


    His mom starred at him, the sadness evident across her expression, "Well ¡­ at least I will be content in the fact that it will take a while to fix the racer ¡­ if it is even possible. I am pretty confident you will miss the next handful of events, including the Boonta Eve Classic ¡­ ugh that event is truly a death race."


    Harry nodded. He knew that usually there was at least one or two deaths during each podrace, however the prize money was so astronomical for the Boonta Eve Classic and not just for the winner but for each position. As a result of this, it was a lot more competitive and many racer simply tried to eliminate their competition in order to increase the likelihood they would receive a reward at the end.


    They were quiet for a little bit, his mom seemed content to just watch him as he ate his broth, apparently having decided spending time with him was more important that going to grab another bowl for herself.


    Once he finished, she looked at him seriously as she questioned, "How are you feeling?"


    Harry stopped to consider the question. He was honestly surprised he was feeling as well as he did, especially considering the description of the crash from his mom.


    "I am pretty good, I do have a slight throbbing in my head, but even as we have been chatting I have noticed the pain lessening."


    His mom smiled, "That''s good Ani, the medi-droids said you likely have a small concussion but after you finished eating you are free to go to sleep, I just need to check on you every little while to make sure you are alright."


    Harry nodded, "Sounds good, thanks for food. I am probably ready for sleep."


    After his mom got up and tucked into Harry into bed, she paused, standing over him, "You are ok though right? You were muttering strange things in your sleep."


    Harry looked up at her already feeling sleepy, "Oh? About what?"


    "You were calling for people ¡­ Ron and Hermione? I think. Unique names. Are they new friends, I don''t think I have heard you mention them before."


    Harry froze before meeting her eyes as he replied, "More like ¡­ old friends."


    His mom looked at him, appearing to have a follow up question on the tip of her tongue, however seeing the sadness on his face and hearing the sadness in his voice she decided to leave it for another time. "Ok I''ll let you sleep Ani, if there is anything you need. Just call for me."


    Harry managed to fall asleep almost immediately after she turned and headed out of his room. Much to his relief, it was into a dreamless sleep.


    While he slept, Watto let his mother know that he was allowing him the next day off to recover but expected Harry to be in the following day to start repairing the extreme damage that the podracer had sustained. Harry was quite happy with that arrangement as by lunch the day after he had woken up he was feeling perfectly fine and certainly not as if he had been in a podracer crash and had ended up rolling three times the length of a Togrutan Ritual Field.


    Even though his mom had initially demanded that he take it easy, was not allowed to do anything too strenuous and was to remain in his room on bed rest, Harry managed to eventually convince her that he would take it easy and stay in his room working on the protocol droid. And there he stayed for the remainder of the afternoon.


    <hr>


    The next day, as soon as he had walked into the shop, Watto greeted him and as expected immediately tasked him with repairing the podracer. It was immediately obvious to Harry that the podracer was not in nearly as bad condition as Watto and his mother feared it to be in, it would certainly be out of commission until after the Boonta Eve Classic, but likely not much longer than that.


    After Harry had taken a look at the podracer, diagnosed the damage, and concluded what would need to be replaced; he approached Watto with a list. Watto had almost everything on the list except for two things that he would need to track down, as usual this upset Watto who prided himself on having everything that anyone could need. However, Watto immediately set Harry to work as he went to his office and began reaching out to his contacts for the pieces he did not have.


    Harry threw himself into the podracer repairs, work at the shop, and his projects at home in an effort to escape the dreams which returned each night with a vengeance before disappearing in the morning, leaving nothing but fleeting images and a feeling on oncoming dread.


    By the end of the first week after Harry''s return, Watto had found out that there was a tribe of Jawa''s approaching Mos Espa on their sandcrawler who were in possession of one of the pieces required for the podracer repair. As such, he directed Harry to take the speeder and get the piece needed and any droids or anything else of value that he would be able to sell for a profit.


    The next day when Harry headed off to the sandcrawler, that was about thirty minutes out of the settlement, he took his partially completed protocol droid to help with negotiations as the protocol droid was currently fluent in over three million forms of communication, one of which was the language of the Jawa''s, although Anakin hoped to at least double the total amount of languages the protocol droid knew.


    As the negotiation started, the Jawas had correctly assumed that Harry, like most sentients, did not understand their language, however they did not realize that the droid, which as of yet looked unfunctional, was indeed not only functional but could also understand their language. As such they had made the mistake of discussing several points about how much they would actually take for the pieces Harry was interested in, which was significantly under the asking price of what the Jawas opened the negotiation with and indeed under the price of which Watto had expected to pay. Armed with this information provided by his droid, the negotiations tilted in favor of Harry who realized he would also be able to purchase a couple pieces for the droid and a couple for the project he was working on without Watto becoming suspicious about the amount of money that was spent.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    After successfully completing the negotiation Harry headed back into Mos Espa, stopping only to drop off the extra pieces he had gotten for himself. As he stored the pieces for his project under the tarp he smiled to himself as he realized that he now had everything he needed and all he needed now was time and an opportunity. Soon everyone would know his name ¡­ well at least they would know the name Anakin Skywalker, and he might finally be able to get off this planet and start finding out what Fate had in store for him.


    When he arrived back at the shop, Watto was impressed with the price that Harry had managed to negotiate down to and rewarded him by giving him the rest of the afternoon off, letting him know that he expected him there early the next day to show his appreciation for the time off he was being given.


    Realizing he would not be expected at home soon, Harry headed off in search of Kitster and Wald, who he had been spending a lot of time with since the crash. For the most part they enjoyed sneaking into cantinas where they could listen to and talk with the spacers and pilots who came through Tatooine in search of work.


    Harry personally looked forward to these opportunities as it seemed to be the most reliable way to get information from off planet, of course sometimes he heard fantastical and quite frankly ridiculous stories about the exploits of the Jedi, who sounded like a mysterious order of space monks who had strange, possibly magical powers. It was the magical nature of their powers that interested him and set him to wondering whether they were they just witches and wizards operating under the cloak of secrecy.


    Harry had wanted to discount some of the stories but there seemed to be such a vast amount of these tales that were shared about Jedi that they were hard to discount and Anakin had seemed to believe in them ¡­ and then he had overheard a story about their preferred weapons being laser swords, which caused Harry to remember one of his dreams. Although that only brought up more questions as Harry had no idea as to why he had been dreaming about something he had not heard of.


    After getting let out from Watto''s shop Harry decided to wait for his friends in the cantina where they all usually met. After entering, he noticed their usual booth was open and decided to set down where he relaxed and listened to a conversation between two pilots at the next table.


    "It''s true I tell you!" The first pilot, drunkenly shouted at his companion.


    "If that is true, my mother was a Gamorrean." Replied the second.


    "Well that would certainly explain a lot ¡­" laughed the first, as he paused to finish the drink. "But I am serious, I managed to chart a course and complete the Kessel Run in 13 parsecs."


    "That''s a load of bantha droppings, everyone knows it can''t be done in less than 14 parsecs and even that could only be carried out by a pilot with a death wish ¡­ 13 parsecs, what a dream. Come on you drunk let''s get another drink."


    With that, they headed back off to the bar leaving Harry alone to await the arrival of his friends.


    <hr>


    A couple of days later, as Harry was behind the shop working on the podracer, he heard a cough and got out from underneath the left engine to see that Watto was there, nervously clearing his throat and looking worried.


    This immediately concerned Harry, as he had never seen a look of worry upon Watto''s face. Watto''s emotions and facial expressions were pretty much limited to happiness which was usually displayed when he managed to rip off a customer in a negotiation or resignation when the negotiation was fair and the customer was not ripped off ¡­ or anger when he found out that Harry had crashed his podracer again and heard the cost of repairing it.


    Seeing he got Harry''s attention, Watto hesitantly began speaking, "I have found the last piece. For the podracer."


    This served to further increase Harry''s concern, as Watto while was never particularly thrilled to find out he did not have something he needed, he was always happy when he managed to find out where he could get it ¡­ especially if he could task Harry with getting it for him.


    Harry looked up from the ground, covered in sand and the lubricating oil he have been using on the bearings along the engine turbine shaft, "That''s good news ¡­ isn''t it?"


    Watto hesitantly nodded, "It is ¡­ but ¡­ the individual who has the piece I need wants to meet in a cantina ¡­ in Mos Eisley."


    Harry immediately began to understand Watto''s worry.


    While Harry had very quickly come to realize that Mos Espa was certainly no fairy-tale kingdom it was generally a fairly well-ordered settlement and as long as one followed their common sense there was only a slight chance of being killed for no reason. Mos Eisley however ¡­ was a settlement filled with a significantly more dangerous sort of people, who more often than not shot first and never stopped ask questions or think about it.


    Harry had overheard more than one spacer joking that if you entered Mos Eisley you were basically flipping a peggat as to whether you would return.


    "I know you said we need the piece ¡­ however ¡­ I was thinking we could always wait until I find the next one. It is not as if the podracer will be fixed by the Boonta Eve Classic and the next several races are all small pots anyways, so it does not matter if we miss one or more of those.


    Harry looked at Watto, slightly touched by the display of concern for his wellbeing, although he was pretty sure the concern was mostly due to Watto realizing that Harry was incredibly skilled and it would be incredibly difficult bordering on impossible to replace him.


    "It''s alright Watto, I can get the piece and then we don''t have to wait around. I am almost at the stage where I won''t be able to do anything until I have that piece anyways. Once I get to that point I won''t be able to do anything and if we wait too long I will need to recalibrate everything I have done so far."


    Watto starred at him.


    "You better be ok Ani, I don''t want to have to replace you." Harry silently chuckled as Watto confirmed his suspicion. "Just go in make the deal and head out. You will leave first thing tomorrow."


    "Of course ¡­ although maybe don''t tell my mother ¡­"


    Watto looked at Harry and laughed, "Ok, enough chatting, back to work!"


    <hr>


    The next morning, while having a quick breakfast with his mom he was slightly evasive as to where he was heading off to grab the piece, not wanting to lie to his mother or cause her unnecessary worry. As he finished his breakfast and was about to head out the door to grab the speeder from the salvage shop, Harry paused and looked towards his room before running back and grabbing his wand and a holster, which he had also found within the pouch. While he understood the wisdom behind Fate''s suggestion over keeping a low profile, he decided he should definitely be prepared when heading into a dangerous scenario like he was about to.


    The ride was thankfully uneventful and as he neared Mos Eisley''s walls his communicator beeped directing him to the Mos Eisley Cantina as the location of the meeting.


    Following the directions on the communicator, Harry arrived at the cantina without incident and after disabling the speeder he entered the cantina only to shudder from sensory overload.


    As if the blaring music was not enough, the emotions he felt from the individuals was overwhelming. Harry got the sense that nearly everyone within the cantina was harboring negative intentions and depending on the stimulus any one of them was capable of acting on them with the slightest provovation.


    Looking around the dimly lit room, Harry searched for the individual described in the communique. Eventually Harry noticed the tapir like snout, bulbous eyes, and pea green skin of a young Rodian who looked to be about his age and headed in that direction.


    "Hello, I am Anakin. I believe you have something for me."


    The alien looked at him and hissed out, "No names."


    Harry nodded, "That''s fine, I have your payment here, I just came for the parts."


    As Harry watched the alien, he noticed that he shuffled a little when Harry mentioned he had the payment and Harry felt his emotions darken. With a start Harry realized that he had drawn his blaster below the table.


    After initially being shocked that an alien of such a young age would automatically reach for a blaster and attempt to shoot him rather than seeing the deal through, Harry started reaching for his wand. Although, he made no attempt to attack just yet, partially out of desire to not raise suspicions of anyone who might be looking his way and partially due to the fact that he felt a bit of doubt emanating from the alien.


    Harry looked right into the bulbous eyes of the Rodian stating, "You do not want to do that."


    "What you mean?" the alien replied staring at Harry.


    "You do not want to attack me, that is not the outcome you are looking for." Harry repeated a little more forcefully with a lot more confidence than he felt.


    "Why not, why I not shoot you and take all the credits and keep the machine piece. Business deal gone bad, it happen before, it not impossible that happen again."


    Harry froze his mind racing to think up a response, although the fact that the alien had not fired already gave him hope for being able to talk his way out of this.


    "Because if you don''t shoot, we can ¡­ build a business relationship out of this deal."


    The Rodian stared at Harry unflinchingly but did not make an effort to shoot him so Harry continued. "In the future, it is likely that either Watto or myself will need some more hard to find pieces and if we know we can trust this relationship to be safe, we will come to you. On top of this, whoever you work for will not be happy if Watto never does business with your boss because you shot his slave over a rather small deal. I imagine that will not work out for you ¡­ that is, angering your boss."


    Harry was still working on his ability to be able to read the racial expressions of Rodians but could tell based on reading his emotions that the Rodian across the table got really worried when Harry mentioned the idea of angering his boss.


    Realizing there was nothing else he could say right now, Harry kept quiet and allowed the Rodian to think on his words.


    "So what you suggest?" The Rodian eventually replied, evidently deciding that possibly killing Harry might not work out well for him.


    "Well ¡­ I think as a show of good faith I will give you the payment now and then we can go outside and I will load up the speeder with the part Watto needed. At which point, I will head back to Mos Espa to tell him about what a good interaction we had and let him know that I recommend dealing with you every time he does business in Mos Eisley."


    Harry smiled realizing that he got through to the Rodian after seeing the greed in the aliens eyes as he finished the sentence.


    However, it still felt like an eternity until he had relaxed his blaster arm and nodded saying, "Good plan."


    With that confirmation, Harry released the breath he had been holding and handed over the sack containing the agreed upon payment, as the Rodian reholstered his blaster.


    After this, Harry followed him outside and loaded the piece for the podracer into the speeder, choosing to not inspect it in front of the Rodian deciding that might seem to be ¡­ insensitive and would likely re-escalate the situation.


    Once Harry had loaded the piece into the speeder, got it secured, and re-enabled the speeder he turned to the Rodian and nodded, "It was ¡­ a pleasure doing business with you ¡­ sorry I didn''t catch your name ¡­"


    The Rodian took a step back and inspected Harry before replying, " ¡­ I said, no names."


    With that he turned and effortlessly disappeared into the crowd.


    As Harry navigated the speeder out of Mos Eisley, he released another breathe he had been holding, happy to have managed to escape the settlement unscathed.


    While he had actually found he had ended up enjoying the music of the cantina and in some perverse way he actually enjoyed developing the relationship with the Rodian, wondering for a second what his future held in store for him, Harry could adamantly say, that even compared to Knockturn Alley, he had never visited a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.


    Two hours later, as Harry was approaching the outlying dwellings around Mos Espa he felt ¡­ well he was not sure what he felt, but he was pretty sure he felt great upheaval approaching and for some reason felt that he would be at the center of it.


    Almost immediately after the feeling began, a sleek silver spacecraft flew by overhead, heading in the direction of the dunes outside the city rather than the spaceport.


    This in and of itself was not great cause for concern as it was not uncommon for individuals who wished to avoid registration with the settlement to often do exactly the same thing, however Harry could not shake the feeling that the craft was somehow related to the feeling he had just experienced.


    As Harry lowered his eyes back to the path in front of him, he froze and almost immediately glanced back up towards the retreating ship in the distance, recognizing it.


    This ship had been in his dreams and he was positive that this was the exact same ship he had witnessed an image of as he was flying out of body towards the surface of Tatooine.


    A large part of him wanted to head off in the direction of the ship and understand the connection between the events that were happening to him, however he shook his head knowing that there was something significant happening and knowing that he was likely fated to run into his destiny no matter what he chose at this point.


    He refocused his attention on the sand in front of him, smoothly avoiding a wrecked speeder that was partially submerged in a dune. Harry risked a quick glance in the direction the ship had disappeared, knowing that his life was likely to experience great disruption quite shortly.


    By the time Harry had made it back to the shop he realized he was starving, having not have eaten much of his breakfast before heading out and not having been brave enough to stick around Mos Eisley for a bite after the deal was struck.


    As he walked into the shop he was immediately greeted by a slightly surprised Watto.


    "Ani! ¡­ You live ¡­ that''s good."


    Harry stopped, momentarily surprised by the sound of affection in Watto''s voice. "Thanks Watto, just got back."


    Watto inspected him closely, "How did the exchange go? No trouble I hope?"


    Harry paused considering his words, "It ¡­ was alright ¡­ we managed to reach an agreement to carry on business with the contact and his boss. So if you need anything from them it should likely be alright ¡­ that being said, I would be perfectly alright if you never sent me there again." As he finished the sentence his stomach loudly grumbled.


    This caused Watto to laugh, whether because of what he said or because of his stomach he was unsure, although he was happy Watto chose to show pity on the sandy haired boy in front of him.


    "Go eat boy, and then when you are done you can get back to repairing my podracer. I will call if I need help with any customers."


    Harry smiled and headed off to grab a little snack before Watto could change his mind.


    As he was finishing his Womprat jerky, he heard voices start in the main shop. He paused and listened, knowing Watto was likely to call for him to come and ¡­ and as predicted almost immediately he heard Watto yell back.


    "Peedunkel! Naba dee unko!


    Harry put down his plate and headed to the front to help Watto.


    ''Boy what took you ¡­"


    However, Harry missed the rest of what Watto said as he starred at the three sentients and one droid who had entered the shop.


    Four individuals thst he recognized ¡­


    An older gentlemen with a certain presence around him in worn brown robes, a gangly amphibious looking alien with a duck bill, yellow eyes perched on top of stalks at the top of its head, and large flappy ears, a short conical astromech droid, and ¡­ the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on outside of his dreams, a girl who was likely several years older than he was now, probably closer to the age he was when he had been sent to this galaxy.


    Harry paused his eyes unable to leave the girl in front of him realizing that his fate was upon him.


    Kind Regards,


    FavoriteAuthor


    <hr>


    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.

 Meeting Padme and Co

    An older gentlemen with a certain presence around him in worn brown robes, a gangly amphibious looking alien with a duck bill, yellow eyes perched on top of stalks at the top of its head, and large flappy ears, a short conical astromech droid, and ¡­ the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on outside of his dreams, a girl who was likely several years older than he was now, probably closer to the age he was when he had been sent to this galaxy.


    Harry paused his eyes unable to leave the girl in front of him realizing that his fate was upon him.


    <hr>


    Harry found himself standing at the threshold of the main shop room, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. His gaze darted back and forth between the cluster of individuals gathered near the entrance, their presence the cause of his confusion disorientation.


    Who were they?


    What were they doing here?


    What did this mean?


    Watto fixed his intense gaze on Harry before shaking his head in exasperation and yelling at him, "Watch the store and make sure this one ¡­" he paused to point at the amphibious looking alien. " ¡­ Make sure he doesn''t break anything. I''ll be taking this here ¡­ um, farmer ¡­?" He paused again waiting for confirmation from the older man. When it was not forthcoming, Watto shrugged his shoulders nonchalently, "Very well, I''ll take him and his droid to the yard to look for the parts they need."


    With that, the trio made their exit through the back door, leaving Harry standing alone in the shop with the curious alien and the girl, whose presence seemed to captivate his attention.


    As soon as Watto, the astromech, and the man had left the store, the amphibious alien wasted no time exploring and handling every item he could get his hands on. His enthusiasm mirroring that of a child. Harry contemplated issuing a warning to be careful, knowing all too well the potential for chaos that might ensue if the alien accidentally triggered something, knowing it would be his responsibility to clean it up. Yet, his gaze kept wandering back to the girl, rendering him momentarily distracted.


    Her appearance had an inexplicable allure that held Harry''s attention hostage. He found himself drawing involuntary comparisons to friends from his past. Fleur Delacour, with her enchanting Veela heritage, and Daphne Greengrass, despite her somewhat aloof demeanor, were undoubtedly among the most attractive acquaintances he had encountered previously. However, this girl seemed to be in the same league, if not surpassing them.


    Despite the blandness of her rustic, rough-spun cloak, she managed to appear strikingly out of place, her looks and demeanor transcending her attire. Her complexion was flawless, radiating with an inherent glow that seemed otherworldly. Causing Harry to wonder if perhaps if indeed it was. Her dark brown hair framed her ace elegantly, her hazel eyes held a certain allure. However, what captivated his attention the moster, were her lips, which held a subtle, serene, and enigmatic smile that seemed to beckon him closer with a teasing quality.


    Yet, Harry began to grasp that the magnetic pull he felt towards this girl extended beyond her appearance, there was something more profound than mere physical beauty at play. While immediately he had found her presence genuinely pleasant, he realized it was the undeniable air of confidence that enveloped her. He was confidnt this quality drew people to her, an attribute that spoke volumes about her character and made her presence all the more captivating.


    As Harry was contemplating the various ways to greet the girl, his attention was abruptly yanked away by a deafening crash originating from the far side of the room. In an instant, he pivoted on his heels to confront the source of the disturbance.


    There, he witnessed the girl''s companion, seemingly caught red-handed, standing next to a chaotic heap of scattered mechanical parts strewn haphazardly across the floor. What irked Harry was that this disarray consisted of parts he had painstakingly organized and stacked on the workbench, right next to where the alien had been standing, only days earlier.


    As Harry prepared to reprimand the guilty looking alien, he found himself preempted by the girl, who took a step forward and addressed her companion with a tone of stern authority, "Jar Jar, what did Qui-Gon say? Do not touch anything!" The way she asserted herself only added to the air of confidence that had already intrigued Harry, and he couldn''t help but watch their interaction with a mix of curiosity and amusement.


    As her gaze shifted away from Jar Jar and unexpectedly locked onto Harry''s, a warm and genuine smile graced her lips. Harry, caught off guard by the sudden connection, momentarily froze, his mind racing to process the encounter. It took a moment for him to gather his composure as he watched her approach.


    Determined to initiate a conversation without resorting to anything awkward, Harry returned her smile as she drew nearer. He gestured in the direction of her companion, "Jar Jar ¡­ was it? He doesn''t seem to be the most careful individual, is he?"


    Her eyes flicked towards the bumbling alien, and she paused, thoughtfully choosing her words, "Well, he''s ... nice, and his intentions are good ..."


    Their eyes met once more, and a shared understanding passed between them. Without warning, both burst into laughter, the tension of the moment dissolving in the joyous release of shared amusement.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you," Harry began offering a warm smile as he introduced himself, "I am ¡­ Anakin Skywalker." His voice faltered ever so slightly at the end of his introduction. It marked the first time since arriving in this unfamiliar world that he felt a twinge of unease about concealing his true identity, a sensation that left him momentarily puzzled.


    Unaware of the internal turmoil Harry was grappling with, Padme responded with a friendly smile, her hazel eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Likewise, Anakin," she replied, her tone welcoming. "I am Padme Naberrie." Then, her gaze shifted to the surroundings, and she couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow, her playful curiosity evident. "Aren''t you a little young to be working in a salvage shop?"


    Harry regarded her with a small, wry chuckle, his eyes momentarily reflecting a deeper wisdom than his youthful appearance might suggest. "You know," he began, "I may not look it, but I''ve learned quite a bit along the way. Besides ¡­ it''s not as if I had much of a choice. My mother and I were sold to a Hutt when I was too young to even remember, and then Watto won us in a bet on a ¡­"


    His voice trailed off as he noticed the expression of shock and sorrow that overcame Padme''s features. Her eyes widened, and she could not contain her immediate response, blurting out, "You''re a slave ¡­"


    The realization of his situation seemed to catch her unaware, causing her to react with genuine empathy and concern.


    While Harry had never relished the prospect of discussing being a slave, the way Padme reacted brought a measure of relief to him. Her tone carried a reassuring message: that perhaps slavery was not a common practice in this galaxy, or at the very least, it was held in contempt. Harry had been quietly piecing together information about the prevalence of slavery in this new reality, but most of what he''d gathered had come from the chatter of spacers and pilots¡ªa rough and pragmatic crowd more concerned with getting paid than moral considerations.


    Yet, as he returned his gaze to Padme, he observed that the shock still lingered on her face. "Yes," he admitted, a touch of resignation in his voice, "I am a slave. But I''m also more than that. Please, don''t judge me solely by that one aspect of my life. I am a person with a ¡­ complex history, dreams, and aspirations, just like anyone else. And I have a feeling I will not be a slave for much longer."


    Now, it was Padme''s turn to wear an expression of embarrassment and self-reproach. She turned her gaze back to Harry, her voice tinged with regret, "I''m terribly sorry for my reaction. I didn''t mean to imply anything negative ... I just wasn''t informed... I mean, the Queen wasn''t briefed about slavery being legal and practiced on this planet ..." Her words trailed off as she appeared flustered, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and concern.


    Harry couldn''t help but smile at her genuine apology, appreciating the sincerity behind it. He noted that Padme seemed quite unaccustomed to being flustered, and he wanted to ease any lingering discomfort. In an attempt to steer the conversation away from the topic of slavery, he extended a conversational olive branch, "You''re traveling with a Queen?" His question was laced with curiosity, seeking to learn more about her and her intriguing circumstances, hoping perhaps to gain some clarity on his visions.


    Harry quickly realized that he had misjudged his response, judging by Padme''s reaction as her smile faded, replaced by a guarded expression. Her response came across as devoid of emotion as she said, "Sorry, that was misleading... I misspoke."


    Perplexed by the sudden shift in her demeanor, Harry arched an eyebrow and responded with genuine contrition, "I apologize; I didn''t mean to pry. I was just intrigued. I''ve never been in proximity to queens where I could even be part of a conversation they were having. There was only one queen who was somewhat close to my old home, although I never had the opportunity to meet her or anything like that."


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    The mention of his "old home" piqued Padme''s curiosity, and she leaned in slightly, inquiring, "Your old home?" Her tone held a hint of intrigue.


    Harry hesitated for a moment, momentarily unsure of how to respond. Deciding that turnabout was fairplay, he smiled a warm smile at Padme and shared a playful wink. "Sorry that was misleading ¡­ I misspoke."


    This cleverly crafted remark successfully dissipated the lingering tension in the room, bringing forth genuine smiles from both Harry and Padme. As the laughter bubbled up between them, it seemed to wash away any awkwardness that had existed just moments before.


    After they had shared a hearty laugh, Harry gazed at Padme, a newfound understanding between them. "Well, it seems we both might have a few secrets," he remarked, his voice tinged with camaraderie. "I promise, I won''t mention anything to anyone. I''m pretty good at keeping secrets."


    Padme nodded appreciatively.


    "I may not know any queens," Harry began, his voice earnest and filled with a genuine compliment, "but for what it''s worth, I think you would make a pretty good queen."


    Padme''s reaction was immediate; she froze, her eyes fixing on him with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. "What do you mean?" she inquired.


    Harry''s words flowed smoothly as he elaborated, his tone lightened with a touch of humor, "Well, you have this very confident aura about you, and you seem very intelligent ... at least, certainly compared to your companion." He couldn''t help but chuckle, and the two of them turned their attention toward Jar Jar, who had just accidentally activated a droid. The droid promptly embarked on a chaotic rampage, knocking over everything in its path as it careened through the shop.


    Harry, aware of the impending mess and dreading the cleanup that was sure to follow, couldn''t help but call out, "Hit the nose!" His head shook in resignation as he anticipated Watto''s reaction to the havoc caused by the mischievous droid.


    Turning his attention back to Padme, Harry saw her shaking her head, a gesture of mild exasperation. She shrugged her shoulders, a hint of apology in her demeanor. "I''m really sorry about him. Hopefully, this doesn''t get you in trouble."


    Harry responded with a reassuring smile, his tone carrying a touch of understanding. "No need to apologize. I won''t get in trouble for it. If it weren''t this, Watto would have found something else for me to do anyway." He paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he continued, "I don''t enjoy being in slavery, but at least Watto isn''t a bad master. He''s fair and treats us well. Sometimes, I even think he might care for us in his own way."


    Padme regarded Harry with a hint of sadness in her gaze. Her voice was filled with admiration as she commented, "That''s an incredibly mature attitude for someone so young."


    Before Harry had a chance to come up with a suitable response, the entrance to the shop burst open, revealing Watto and Padme''s two other companions. It was clear that they hadn''t come to terms, as the elderly man addressed his fellow travelers with a curt gesture toward the door. "We are leaving," he declared, his tone brooking no argument.


    Padme began to make her way toward the exit, but before departing, she turned back to Harry with a warm smile. "I enjoyed meeting you ... It was nice to talk to someone. Take care!"


    Returning her smile, Harry responded in kind, "I really enjoyed meeting you as well."


    "Fools!" Watto grumbled under his breath, a look of exasperation etched across his face as he watched Padme and her companions exit the shop. "They think they could pay me in Republic credits? What use would I have for those. It might be months before I could get rid of them."


    Harry, still standing by the open doorway, observed as Padme and her group crossed the bustling plaza and eventually disappeared around a corner. "I don''t know, Watto," he replied thoughtfully, "they seemed like good people ... well, except for that clumsy one." He couldn''t help but chuckle as he gestured toward the mess the alien had left in its wake.


    Watto, who had been too busy fuming about the lost business deal, now noticed the chaos in the shop for the first time. He exploded, "Those inconsiderate louts!" His anger subsided quickly, and he turned to Harry, offering an unexpected concession, "Clean up this mess, and you can head home a bit earlier today." With that, he turned around, taking off in the direction of his office while muttering grievances under his breath.


    With a sense of enthusiasm, Harry immediately went to work, knowing that the opportunity to head home earlier than usual and possibly delve into his occlumency studies awaited him. He set to the task at hand, eager to complete the cleanup efficiently.


    Just over an hour later, Harry took a step back, a contented smile gracing his face. He was pleased to discover that he had managed to tidy up the mess significantly faster than he had initially expected. After bidding Watto a goodnight, he headed out, planning to make a brief stop at one of his friends'' stalls, to pick up some food for his mother on the way home.


    As he rounded the corner opening up to the plaza his friend was located in, his progress came to an abrupt halt. Harry''s gaze fixed upon a scene unfolding before him, and he shook his head in disbelief. It seemed that Jar Jar''s propensity for getting into trouble extended beyond salvage shops. The amphibian alien had evidently done something to irk Sebulba, who had pushed Jar Jar to the ground and was now standing over him, menacingly threatening him.


    Not spotting the rest of Jar Jar''s party and concerned that things might escalate out of hand, Harry made the swift decision to intervene.


    "Chess ko, Sebulba," he called out, his voice ringing with a calm authority. "I''d leave that one alone if I were you."


    Sebulba, who had been intensely focused on Jar Jar, turned around to locate the source of the interruption, his eyes narrowing with a hostile recognition as he spotted Harry standing there. It was clear that he remembered the numerous altercations they had had while on the Podracing circuit.


    Undeterred by the intense glare, Harry maintained a friendly smile and casually shrugged. "Well, it''s your choice, but ¡­ perhaps keep in mind, he came into the shop today on business for the Hutts. Causing him harm probably isn''t the kind of attention you''d want to draw." Harry''s words were delivered with a measured calmness, hinting at the potential repercussions Sebulba might face if he continued his aggressive behavior.


    Sebulba leaned back, his menacing eyes appraising the figure sprawled before him. With a sudden surge of fury, he bellowed out in anger, his guttural voice resonating, "Neek me chawa! Fine! Be careful next time ... you won''t always have this little wermo around to help you out." And with that, he spun around, storming away in a fit of indignation, leaving Harry to assist Jar Jar to his feet.


    After helping the relieved Jar Jar regain his footing, Harry observed the return of Padme, Qui-Gon, and their diminutive astromech droid, who had evidently come back to locate their missing companion.


    "Jar Jar, what happened? Where did you ... Oh ... hello again, Anakin," Padme remarked, her attention shifting from Jar Jar to the familiar figure standing by his side. Her tone was warm and welcoming, the surprise in her voice indicative of the unexpected reunion.


    Harry greeted Padme with a warm smile, his eyes brightening at opportunity to see her again. "Hello again. Fancy seeing you again so soon ... Your friend here was attempting to pick a fight with ¡­ well someone he definitely should not be provoking."


    Qui-Gon regarded Jar Jar with a deep, ponderous gaze before turning his attention to Harry. "You have our thanks for stepping in to assist our companion."


    Harry''s response was firm. "No worries. Sebulba is a bully, and it''s always good to help those targeted by bullies. I can''t stand by and idly watch them torment anyone."


    Padme and Qui-Gon, exchanged meaningful glances, seemingly reassessing Harry, before nodding in agreement. Qui-Gon was the first to respond, his voice tinged with approval, "I couldn''t agree more ..."


    Unfortunately, the remainder of Qui-Gon''s statement was drowned out by the sudden, thunderous grumbling of Jar Jar''s stomach, drawing the collective attention of everyone present.


    Amused by the interruption, Harry couldn''t help but laugh. "Seems like you haven''t eaten yet. I know just the place in the settlement. Trust me, you''ll love the pallies ¡­ they are the best."


    Seeing no objections from the group, he took the lead and guided them to his friend Jira''s stall. After a brief conversation with her, he placed an order for pallies, enough for the four of them, and an additional one to take home to his mother.


    As he extended his arm to make payment, an odd sensation rippled through his arm. He paused, furrowing his brow in puzzlement, and began to rotate his arm to inspect it. In the process, he inadvertently lost his grip on the coins, which clattered to the ground.


    Harry shook his head, puzzled by the strange sensation in his arm, and he began to crouch down to retrieve the fallen coins. However, he quickly realized that Qui-Gon had already taken the initiative and was in the process of gathering the scattered coins.


    Just as Harry opened his mouth to express his gratitude, his words froze in his throat. His gaze zeroed in on something attached to Qui-Gon''s hip ¡­ something that triggered a rush of memories. It was an object he had glimpsed recently in his visions ¡­ a topic of hushed conversations in cantinas ¡­ something nearly as legendary as the individuals known for wielding them.


    Qui-Gon''s hip held a lightsaber.


    Unbeknownst to Qui-Gon, who was focused on handing the coins back to Harry, the young man numbly accepted the returned currency. All the while, his thoughts raced, contemplating the significance of the man''s presence and the weapon that hung at his side.


    Just who were these people?


    Was this man really a Jedi?


    Having settled the bill for the food, Harry suddenly felt a powerful gust of wind hurtling down the street, sending sand and debris swirling around them.


    Still harboring curiosity about the lightsaber and desiring more time in Padme''s company, Harry addressed the group with a concerned tone. "There''s a storm blowing in," he announced, pointing towards clouds billowing above the distant outskirts of the settlement. "Sandstorms here can be pretty intense. Do you have shelter nearby?"


    Padme''s gaze shifted between Qui-Gon and Harry, a moment of silent communication passing between her and Qui-Gon. Finally, she looked back at Harry and began, "We have a ship on the outskirts of the..."


    "That''s too far. You''ll never make it before the storm hits the settlement. If you want, you can come with me. You can wait out the storm in my house," Harry offered, his concern evident in his tone.


    Padme started to respond, shaking her head. "We couldn''t do that, and wouldn''t your parents be upset if you just brought strangers over?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Harry.


    Harry responded with a reassuring smile, "It''s just my mother and me, but by now, she''s used to me helping those in need." He continued, emphasizing the gravity of their choice, "It''s either come back to my place and ride out the storm there, or risk getting separated in the storm while trying to find your way to the ship. Sometimes these storms can last a couple of days."


    Jar Jar and Padme exchanged glances, their uncertainty evident. However, it was Qui-Gon who held Harry''s gaze, his eyes intensely focused on the young man for a few seconds before finally nodding in agreement. "Alright, Anakin, we appreciate the offer. Please lead the way."


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 The House of Skywalker

    Padme''s gaze shifted between Qui-Gon and Harry, a moment of silent communication passing between her and Qui-Gon. Finally, she looked back at Harry and began, "We have a ship on the outskirts of the ..."


    "That''s too far. You''ll never make it before the storm hits the settlement. If you want, you can come with me. You can wait out the storm in my house," Harry offered, his concern evident in his tone.


    Padme started to respond, shaking her head. "We couldn''t do that, and wouldn''t your parents be upset if you just brought strangers over?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Harry.


    Harry responded with a reassuring smile, "It''s just my mother and me, but by now, she''s used to me helping those in need." He continued, emphasizing the gravity of their choice, "It''s either come back to my place and ride out the storm there, or risk getting separated in the storm while trying to find your way to the ship. Sometimes these storms can last a couple of days."


    Jar Jar and Padme exchanged glances, their uncertainty evident. However, it was Qui-Gon who held Harry''s gaze, his eyes intensely focused on the young man for a few seconds before finally nodding in agreement. "Alright, Anakin, we appreciate the offer. Please lead the way."


    <hr>


    As Harry guided the group toward his house, the sandstorm had evolved into an even more formidable adversary. It now stood as a nearly impenetrable veil, reducing visibility to just a few feet and creating a continuous, disorienting roar that drowned out any attempts at conversation.


    About halfway through their journey, the deafening noise and blinding sand forced them to abandon all attempts at speech. Instead, they formed a chain by holding hands, their interconnected line ensuring that no one would get lost in the tempestuous chaos. They understood that losing someone amidst the storm would carry slim chances of finding them until after the storm abated.


    Sensing, rather than seeing, that they were near the front door to the house, Harry redoubled his efforts, leaning into the storm to ensure that everyone arrived safely. The unbroken chain of hands moved with determination, determined to reach the shelter of his home amidst the relentless sandstorm.


    Harry''s diligent efforts finally bore fruit when his hand came into contact with the front door, and he couldn''t help but release a relieved sigh as he ushered everyone inside. Upon entering himself, he called out to his mother, ensuring she was aware of his return.


    "Mom, I made it home safely. No need to worry," he called out to reassure her. Then, it dawned on him that he should inform her about the unexpected guests he had brought with him. "And I brought people back with me. They were in need of shelter, so I offered to let them wait out the storm here."


    In response to his announcement, his mother''s voice preceded her into the room. "Oh, Ani ..." Her tone was a mix of affectionate exasperation and pride as she herself came into view, a warm smile on her face. "Of course you did. Well, I suppose it would have been rather rude to leave those in need to wait out a sandstorm outside."


    She turned her attention to the group assembled near the door, extending a friendly greeting. "I am Shmi Skywalker, and you are?" Her words were accompanied by a warm and welcoming smile, accompanying her invitation to introduce themselves.


    Qui-Gon stepped forward and with a courteous nod began the conversation. "I am Qui-Gon Jinn," he introduced himself, his tone resonating with politeness. "And with me are my companions Padme Naberrie and Jar Jar Binks ..." He paused briefly as the astromech droid chimed in with a cheerful whistle, causing Qui-Gon to smile. "... and, of course, this little guy here is our droid, Artoo Detoo. We really appreciate your son welcoming us into your home. We hope we are not too much of an imposition."


    Shmi glanced briefly at Harry, who stood nearby, and then turned her attention back to Qui-Gon Jinn. Her voice held a welcoming warmth as she responded, "Of course not, welcome to our home! I''m afraid it''s not much, but it does suit our needs well enough."


    Padme, offering her own kind words, took a step forward, her presence exuding grace and sincerity. "This is a lovely home," she complimented. "It takes more than things to make a dwelling into a home. I can feel the care and love you have put into your home."


    Shmi''s face softened, the compliment assuaging any lingering concerns about having company in the house. She inclined her head graciously toward Padme. "Thank you for your kind words. Please, make yourselves comfortable."


    Shmi turned her attention toward Qui-Gon, a note of curiosity in her voice. "How do you know my son? I do not believe I have seen you around before..."


    Harry, recognizing that his mother and Qui-Gon were likely to engage in a lengthy and boring conversation, seized the opportunity to offer Padme an escape from the impending and likely very dull exchange. He spun around and faced her, his eyes bright with anticipation. "Would you like to see the droid I''ve built ... well, the one I''ve been building?"


    Padme''s expression reflected her impressed curiosity. "You''ve built a droid? You''re certainly quite capable. Sure, I''d love to." Her genuine interest in his work was evident as she agreed to accompany him.


    As Harry led Padme into his room, her attention was immediately seized by the sight of numerous projects spread across his workbench, each in various states of completion. Her voice carried a clear note of admiration as she inquired, "These are all truly projects you''ve been working on?"


    Harry''s smile was evident as he looked over the workbench, a hint of pride in his response. "Aye, those are the ones currently still requiring work ... some are a little closer to completion than others, though," he remarked with a chuckle.


    Padme eventually made her way to the end of the workbench, her gaze now fixed on the depowered droid. "So this is the droid that you''ve built? All by yourself?" she asked, clearly interested.


    Harry nodded, his eyes reflecting a sense of accomplishment. "I started building it a couple of years ago, using scrap pieces that Watto and other salvage shops considered useless. But I''ve almost completed it. I wanted to build it for my mother to help her out."


    Padme was visibly impressed as she inspected the droid. She offered a heartfelt compliment, "Anakin, that''s really impressive. I know many adults more than twice your age who would have no hope of accomplishing something like that, much less with scrap pieces."


    Harry beamed at Padme''s words and replied, "If you give me a second, I can turn him on. I''ve just started charging him, but he should have enough power for a little while at least."


    He walked over to a switch on the wall that was above a cable that ran into the droid''s back. With a quick flip, the droid''s eyes lit up, and it sat upright, now ready to spring to life.


    "Hello, Master Anakin. I see you have company this evening," the droid, remarked with a polite and somewhat robotic tone. He turned a bit mechanically toward Padme, offering a stiff nod of his head.


    "Greetings, Ma''am. I am See-Threepio, charmed to make your acquaintance," the droid greeted Padme in a somewhat reserved manner.


    Padme returned the greeting with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, See-Threepio. I am Padme Naberrie," she introduced herself before turning her attention back to Harry. Her face lit up with amazement and enthusiasm. "Ani ... sorry ... Anakin, this is amazing!" Her genuine admiration was evident as she expressed her fascination with the droid.


    Harry couldn''t help but smile at Padme''s informal slip, appreciating her comfort around him. He observed as R2-D2 rolled up to his droid, stepping back to allow the astromech to inspect C-3PO. After seeming to complete the inspection, R2-D2 emitted a series of beeps and whistles.


    C-3PO glanced down at the small astromech, his metallic tone conveying a mild affront. "Who are you calling a scrap pile, you short circuit? Of course, I am not yet complete. Master Anakin works on me when he has the time, but he has several projects on the go. And as shocking as it may be, I am not even the most impressive one. He is very busy. My goodness!" His response was delivered with an air of righteous indignation, which elicited laughter from both Harry and Padme.


    R2-D2 emitted a shrill whistle before backing away toward the door.


    Noting Padme''s attention on him, Harry turned toward her, ready to answer her inquiry. "What else are you working on? I can''t imagine what else might be more impressive than an operational protocol droid," she inquired, her curiosity evident.


    Harry''s playful smile arose as he responded to Padme, teasing her with a hint of mystery. "Well ¡­ maybe when the sandstorm is over, I can show you," he remarked, feeling that now was not yet the time to bring up his Podracer.


    Turning back to his droid, Harry reassured C-3PO, "Do not worry, 3PO. I promise I will not forget about you. I will have you all finished up as soon as I have the opportunity and find the last parts I need."


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    The protocol droid replied with unwavering trust and a touch of warmth. "I know you will, Master Anakin. There was never a doubt in my mind."


    Harry was about to respond when he heard a beeping sound emanating from a datapad attached to a node under C-3PO''s arm. He reached over to check the flashing message and then turned his attention to the droid. "Well, it looks like I''ll have to turn you off for now so the capacitors can finish charging. But the next time I turn you on, you should be just about ready to go." With that, he initiated the process to power down the droid temporarily.


    As Harry reached around and depowered C-3PO, his attention was diverted by the sound of Padme rummaging around on his workbench, inspecting the various projects spread across it. Her curiosity seemed to have gotten the better of her, as she stopped rummaging and found something that piqued her interest.


    "What''s this?" she inquired, her tone filled with curiosity.


    Harry spun around to see what had caught her attention, but he froze upon realizing what she had found. She was holding his mokeskin pouch, which he had left on the workbench''s top rather than returning it to its designated cubby, where it was usually kept out of sight.


    With a wry smile on his face, Harry extended his hand, palm up, in expectation of its return. "Well, that depends ..."


    Padme regarded him with a raised eyebrow, a puzzled expression on her face. "Depends? Depends on what?" Her curiosity was now directed toward the enigmatic pouch that had looked so out of place among all the technology and mechanical contraptions on the bench, her interest was truly piqued.


    Harry leaned in slightly, a mysterious glint in his eyes as he posed his question. "Well ¡­ do you believe in magic?"


    Padme''s reaction was immediate. She paused, her mouth partially open, clearly not anticipating such a response. After a moment, she composed herself and refocused her attention on him. "Magic?" she echoed, seemingly even more engaged on the conversation.


    Harry maintained his enigmatic smile and gave a confirming nod. "Magic."


    "Um ... I don''t know," Padme replied, her answer tentative. "Like the Force? Maybe. Why?" Her curiosity prompted her to seek clarification.


    In response to her mentioning "the Force," Harry froze. The mention of those words brought back memories of his conversation with Fate before he woke up in this unfamiliar world ...


    May the Force be with you


    The unexpected reappearance of the words left him momentarily speechless.


    Was this ¡­ Force ¡­ like his Magic?


    Harry decided that was something to think about later and chuckled in response to her questions, a warm and nostalgic tone in his laughter. "Well, if you don''t believe in magic, this might be hard to explain. But a ... friend ..." He trailed off, his voice catching slightly as he recalled the kind and lovable Hagrid, and the many times Hagrid had been there for him.


    He continued, finding his words. "A friend gave me this bag, and it''s magical."


    Padme''s gaze returned to the mokeskin pouch in his hands, with renewed interest. "How so?" she inquired.


    Harry beamed with enthusiasm as he explained further. "Well ... it can only be opened by me, and it''s much larger on the inside than it appears, so I can store a lot of personal stuff within it."


    It appeared that Padme had been eager to ask more about the pouch or perhaps even to see what was inside. However, when Harry had mentioned it was filled with personal items, she seemed to change her mind and steer the conversation in another direction. With a light-hearted laugh, she inquired, "Are you sure it''s not just some advanced bioelectrical system you designed, which would only appear like magic to someone without technical knowledge like me?"


    Harry smiled warmly at her before shaking his head. "I''m being honest ... I don''t know what it is, but I think ¡­ I feel, that there is ¡­ something special about you. While I can''t promise to answer every question you might have ¨C and I doubt you''d believe my answers if I did ¨C I can promise I will never answer one of your questions with a lie."


    Padme paused, a genuine smile on her face as she responded, "Thank you for that. I don''t know if it''s from being surrounded by people who lie all the time and have their own agendas, but that is so refreshing to hear. I feel I can trust you, and that means a lot." The honesty and integrity in his words had clearly left a positive impression on her.


    Harry''s smile remained warm and genuine as he spoke to Padme across the cluttered workbench. "Well, if you ever need a friend, even though I may just be a slave at the moment ..." He paused, allowing a self-deprecating chuckle to escape before continuing, "... but I believe I''d make a pretty good friend."


    Padme observed him thoughtfully, her eyes scanning his face, as she weighed the sincerity of his offer. After a brief moment, she smiled back at him and replied, "I''d like that. I really wouldn''t mind having an honest friend. Thank you."


    Turning her attention toward the workbench, she shifted the conversation. "So, what is the most interesting thing you are working on? Well other than ... C-3PO, right? What''s the next most interesting thing?"


    With a shared laugh, Harry joined her side. "Well, that would definitely have to be..."


    <hr>


    A couple of hours later, Shmi called out to Harry and Padme, summoning them to join her and their guests for dinner. The meal had been prepared using food capsules Qui-Gon had provided, and they gathered around the modest table to enjoy the nourishment.


    Halfway through the meal, curiosity got the better of Harry, and he decided to ask Qui-Gon about the reason for their visit to Tatooine. However, Qui-Gon swiftly, if not obviously, redirected the conversation, attempting to inquire as to Harry''s own life.


    "So, what do you do for fun, Anakin?" Qui-Gon inquired, changing the focus of their discussion. "Surely your days aren''t solely spent within Watto''s shop."


    Harry''s face lit up with a smile. "Certainly not. I really enjoy hanging out with my friends, Kitster and Wald. Of course, Padme just saw my workshop, but I also like Podracing. Oh, and..." He leaned in, as if sharing a secret, "I''ve been building my own Podracer. It''s a bit of a secret from Watto, though." The glint in his eyes hinted at the excitement that came with such a project.


    Qui-Gon''s raised eyebrow betrayed his surprise as he regarded Harry. "You Podrace?"


    Harry nodded, a proud and enthusiastic smile gracing his face.


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen a human do it," Qui-Gon remarked, still somewhat astonished. "Certainly not one as young as you."


    Padme, curious and eager to learn, looked at Qui-Gon and then shifted her gaze to Harry. "Why not?" she asked, her interest clearly piqued. "Sorry, there is no Podracing on my home planet of Naboo." Her tone was both apologetic and inquisitive.


    Qui-Gon finally averted his gaze from Harry as he began to explain. "Podracing is almost always extremely dangerous. The races are basically death traps for the enjoyment of the rich to bet on. And humans ... usually ... don''t have the reflexes to respond fast enough to the dangers of the track or other racers. You need to have other attributes or the reflexes of an alien ... or ... a Jedi." He concluded, turning his thoughtful gaze back toward Harry.


    Harry''s eyes lit up with excitement as he inquired, "You know about Jedi?"


    Qui-Gon responded with an enigmatic smile, "Well, I may know a thing or two." He paused, glancing briefly at Padme, who had tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress a scoff.


    Harry pressed further, intrigued by the mystery. "Is this from personal experience?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Qui-Gon.


    Shmi gasped in response to Harry''s questioning, her concern for her son''s manners evident. "Ani, don''t be rude," she admonished gently.


    Qui-Gon, however, shook his head and offered a reassuring smile to Shmi. "It''s perfectly alright. Children are naturally inquisitive. Although your Anakin here does seem a bit more curious than most," he remarked with a twinkle in his eye. He then turned his attention back to Harry. "Why do you think I am a Jedi?"


    "Well ... just the way you talk ... and, of course, there is the lightsaber at your side ..." As Harry spoke, Shmi''s eyes widened in shock, not having seen the lightsaber. "And then there is this ... feeling ... I''m not sure how to describe it, that I get when I''m around you."


    Qui-Gon regarded Harry thoughtfully, his gaze penetrating as his smile faltered for a second. "A feeling?" he inquired; his voice tinged with a hint of curiosity.


    Harry nodded emphatically, his eyes alight with their own curiosity. "Aye, a feeling that perhaps there is more to you than there appears to be and a feeling that I should ... help you? It doesn''t really make sense, but I have learned to trust my instincts. They have served me well so far."


    Qui-Gon''s eyes softened, and he offered a reassuring response. "As well you should. Trust your instincts. They are right ¡­ I am a Jedi."


    Harry beamed with excitement. "That is amazing! I knew it! What brings you all the way to Tatooine?"


    Qui-Gon paused, his gaze shifting to Padme briefly and then to the wall, staring in the direction of the ship they had indicated earlier. "Well, that is a long story, certainly not one to start tonight. But perhaps now I am wondering if we were meant to be here. The Force works in mysterious ways." His words were tinged with a sense of profound significance, suggesting that there was more to their presence on Tatooine than even he had originally suspected.


    "The Force?" Harry inquired, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.


    Qui-Gon offered a small, knowing smile. "Yes, the Force. Well ... that''s an even more complicated discussion. But as for your instincts, they are right. We do need help."


    Both Harry and his mom stared at Qui-Gon in astonishment, the significance of their guest''s presence beginning to weigh heavily on them.


    Qui-Gon continued. "As for how you can help us, I believe shelter from the storm is enough ... unless you can think of some way to help us acquire the money we need to purchase the parts required to repair our ship."


    Harry smiled, his eyes filled with determination. "Well ..."


    Realizing where this was going, his mother, Shmi, shook her head in disbelief. "Ani ... no ¡­ you can''t."


    He turned back to his mother, earnestness in his voice. "But mom, there is no other way. Unless you can think of something else."


    Harry paused and looked to his mother awaiting a response but seeing none was forthcoming, he continued, "You''ve always told me that I should try to help those in need. And who is more deserving of help than an actual Jedi? For all the good they''re rumored to do throughout the galaxy, shouldn''t we try to assist them?"


    Shmi paused, her gaze heavy with the weight of her decision, and then, reluctantly, she nodded in agreement.


    Qui-Gon and Padme exchanged intrigued glances, their eyes darting back and forth between Anakin''s confident demeanor and the unfolding interplay of events. However, was Padme who eventually broke the silence, her curiosity piqued. "What are you thinking of?"


    Anakin beamed at Padme''s inquisitive expression before beginning to articulate his plan. "Well ¡­ you see, Watto has a certain weakness for placing bets on Podraces, especially during the Boonta Eve Classic. And I just happen to know about the fastest Podracer in the upcoming event, one that''s likely to provide excellent odds and, most importantly, the Podracer that will win."


    Qui-Gon''s eyes widened as realization dawned on his face, connecting the dots of Anakin''s proposal. Padme, however, still looked at the young boy with a mix of confusion and uncertainty.


    Anakin continued, his voice steady and brimming with self-assuredness, "I propose that I enter the Podrace on your behalf. You can use the winnings to buy the necessary parts for your ship, Qui-Gon. It just feels like the right thing to do."


    Kind Regards,


    FavoriteAuthor


    <hr>


    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.

 Convincing Watto

    The next morning, Harry awoke to the warm embrace of the twin suns'' rays streaming through his window. These dual suns of Tatooine remained an unsettling sight for him, their presence but one unusual aspect of this arid world. Yet, he couldn''t help but cherish the gentle warmth they offered during the early hours of the day ¡­ well at least before the scorching heat of the day became unbearable.


    As Harry rose from his bed, a sense of anticipation washed over him. He realized that he had awoken earlier than the other guests in his home. With silent steps, he stealthily navigated past his mother''s room, where she slept alongside Padme. Nearby, Jar Jar and Qui-Gon were sprawled out on the kitchen floor, lost in slumber. Careful not to disturb them, Harry made his way out to the courtyard behind his dwelling. It was here that he and his friends had recently relocated his prized possession, the podracer.


    Amidst the stillness of the early morning, Harry''s excitement surged as he starred at his beloved podracer, bathed in the soft, golden morning light of the twin suns. Descending the stairs with a sense of purpose, he moved closer to the sleek, metal machine.


    Reaching the podracer, Harry''s hands effortlessly initiated a diagnostic test, ensuring that the latest component he had meticulously integrated just two days prior had seamlessly become a part of the intricate circuits that powered the propulsion system. He meticulously inspected the intricate connections, making sure that every gear and circuit was functioning in harmony, ready for the race that hopefully lay ahead.


    With the diagnostic test underway, Harry''s energy bubbled up inside of him. His face lit up with a brilliant smile, reflecting on the passion he now held towards podracing, a passion he had once assumed would only be held by Quidditch.


    Then, as if summoned by magic, he spun around with a swift, fluid motion and observed Padme standing in the doorway to his home, looking at him, her presence casting a radiant silhouette in the morning sunlight. Her delicate features were illuminated by the twin suns, creating a portrait of grace and beauty.


    For an instant, Harry was left momentarily speechless, his gaze locked on Padme. It was as if time had momentarily stilled, and the world around them faded into insignificance. He felt a sense of awe wash over him, captivated by her presence, which seemed to radiate a serene warmth, much like the gentle morning sun.


    Regaining his composure, Harry''s features transformed into a mixture of delight and warmth. He greeted her with an animated wave, acknowledging her presence and inviting her to share in the morning.


    "Good morning, Padme," Harry greeted, his voice a blend of warmth and slight concern. "I apologize if I made too much noise and disrupted your sleep. Was I too loud?" He looked up at her with a hint of guilt in his eyes before continuing with a light-hearted laugh. "Unfortunately, it''s a conversation I''ve had more times than I can count with my mom."


    Padme responded with a gentle smile and a reassuring shake of her head, her expression offering comfort in its sincerity.


    Harry released an exaggerated breath of relief, his features relaxing into a genuine smile. "I''m so relieved to hear that," he admitted, his voice tinged with gratitude. "You see, I tend to wake up quite early, and I''ve developed a habit of trying to start my day with the first light. It gives me a chance to accomplish as much as I can for both myself and my mom before the day becomes too hectic or ¡­" His voice trailed off briefly, and he playfully gestured upwards at the twin suns that already dominated the sky. "Before it becomes unbearably hot."


    Padme acknowledged Harry''s statement with a nod, her understanding and admiration evident in her expression. "That is a great life strategy," she remarked, her voice soft and thoughtful. "For what it''s worth, I am also an early riser. I have ¡­ so many responsibilities and people who rely on me. Taking a few moments each morning just for myself helps me prepare for the day''s duties and responsibilities. I find those few moments make all the difference in the world."


    Harry, appreciating the connection they shared in their early rising habits, nodded knowingly. As Padme settled on the stairs, leaning against the wall of his modest home, and closed her eyes, he returned to his work on the podracer. While focused on his task, Harry occasionally sensed that Padme had opened her eyes, watching him work on the podracer, which made him smile.


    This peaceful coexistence continued for the better part of an hour, the minutes stretching as they each prepared for the day ahead in their own way.


    Their tranquil companionship was disrupted when Harry''s mother appeared, leading Qui-Gon, who looked refreshed and ready for the day. She waited patiently as Harry completed his task, understanding the importance of his work on the podracer to him.


    After giving Harry the opportunity to finish what he was working on, she nodded to Qui-Gon, who motioned for Harry to join them. Qui-Gon''s eyes sparkled with purpose as he suggested that they commence their plan to convince Watto to allow Harry to participate in the Boonta Eve Classic.


    Filled with anticipation and eager to set their plan into motion, Harry readily agreed to Qui-Gon''s proposal. With a swift farewell to his mother, their parting marked by a warm and tight embrace, Harry found himself standing outside his home, flanked by Padme. They waited patiently, enjoying each other''s comapny, leaving Qui-Gon to the task of rousing Jar Jar and fetching R2-D2 to join them.


    And so it was that in the midst of the Tatooine morning, the five of them set off towards the salvage shop. Knowing that it was unlikely that Qui-Gon and his companions would manage to retrace the route to their destination due to travelling in the sandstorm, Harry assumed the role as leader, leading them along a well-trodden path towards Watto''s shop. They forged ahead until they were just a two-minute walk from their destination, stopping at a familiar sight. Harry pointed out one of his friend''s food carts, offering a tempting assortment of dweezels and local fare.


    Here, they would wait, savoring a hearty breakfast, biding their time, and allowing Harry a moment to put their plan into action. He understood that the Toydarian merchant could be a tough nut to crack. However, he was also aware that, aside from money and gambling, Watto''s most significant weakness was the fear of missing out on an opportunity to gamble and potentially increase his wealth or standing.


    Leaving his companions behind, Harry set off in the direction of Watto''s shop. However, as he drew neared to the shop he made a last minute decision and deftly slipped into an alley nestled between tow merchant carts and circled the bustling courtyard. He knew that this decision would allow him to approach the shop from a different direction, a strategy he was confident would catch Watto''s attention, thereby setting the stage for their discussion..


    And sure enough, he had scarcely crossed the threshold into the shop when Watto came flying out of one of the adjoining rooms. He headed directly towards Harry, his wings fluttering with a sense of anticipation.


    "Pedunkel, you are earlier than your usual arrival time this morning," Watto remarked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "And you came from a different direction than your quarters. Is your sense of direction that disoriented from the sandstorm yesterday ¡­ or something else you are not telling Watto?"


    Suppressing a smile that threatened to burst forth, Harry marveled at the accuracy of his assumptions regarding Watto''s keen observational skills. He understood that he had successfully piqued the Toydarian''s interest, and now all that remained was to properly bait him. If all went according to plan, Harry was confident that Qui-Gon would find it relatively straightforward to conclude negotiations with the shrewd merchant.


    "Aye, Watto," Harry began, his tone measured and calculated. "You remember those three humanoids and the astromech who came in yesterday, just before I left, searching for parts for their ship?" He paused briefly, not seeking an answer but rather allowing Watto a moment to recollect the events of the previous day. He knew that the Toydarian''s memory was sharp, and there was no chance that a failed sale would have slipped from his mind so quickly.


    Watto''s head bobbed in a display of irritated acknowledgement, his face contorted with disgust. "What of them?" he spat out.


    Harry hesitated for effect, "Well," he began, drawing out the word for effect, "yesterday after I left here, I happened to run into them as they were exiting Utinni''s salvage shop ¡­"


    Before Harry could continue, a burst of hearty laughter erupted from Watto, his wings fluttering faster in mirth. "They ventured to Utinni''s for ship parts?" he chortled, his amusement evident. "They must be even more desperate ¡­ or stupid than they initially appeared! Utinni''s inventory is as unreliable as a droid with a malfunctioning motivator. I wouldn''t trust the quality of the components he peddles, regardless of what that blind Rodian tries to claim. I doubt Utinni could distinguish a hyperspace engine from a moisture vaporator even if he tried."


    Watto''s laughter subsided briefly as he fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Harry. "So, you made a return visit to Utinni''s this morning?" he inquired, his business acumen shining through. "What did you uncover? What did you tell them last night?" Watto, despite his amusement, understood the value of keeping a watchful eye on his competitors and potential customers. He was keenly aware of the significance of staying informed, especially when it seemed it might be related to his own interests.


    Harry, with a nod of confirmation, continued to divulge the details of his fake interactions with the group. "Well, last night, I told them that the only place in Mos Espa where they could genuinely find the specific part they required was right here ¡­ well at least if they wanted a working model," he explained. He paused, introducing a feigned hesitation into his narrative. "That was the right thing to saw, wasn''t it?" he inquired, directing his gaze upwards at Watto.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Watto, acknowledged his question with a nod, a smile playing on his lips, "Of course that was the right thing to say," he affirmed. "But the thing I don''t understand is that even if Utinni miraculously possessed everything they needed, how did they expect to pay? Utinni may be quite dim, but even he isn''t foolish enough to take that many Republic credits." Watto declared, punctuating his statement with a derisive scoff.


    Harry met Watto''s inquisitive gaze as he continued the story. "Well, that''s precisely why I paid Utinni''s a visit this morning," he explained, his voice laced with conviction. "The elderly gentleman claimed to have won a podracer in a game of chance, boldly asserting that it was the fastest in the entire galaxy. Their tentative agreement was to participate in the upcoming Boonta Eve Classic, provided that Utinni could furnish them with a suitable racer. The man offered his own ship as collateral, and they then split the winnings from the race, which the man would then use to acquire the pieces from Utinni."


    Watto couldn''t contain his amusement and let out another hearty laugh, his wings fluttering as if in response to his mirth. "Using Utinni''s droid for the race?" he exclaimed with a hint of incredulity. "That man must be truly desperate! In fact, Anakin, I''d wager that even you would stand a better chance ..."


    The Toydarian''s laughter subsided abruptly as he peered past Harry, his gaze fixed on something outside the door. After a moment of contemplation, he turned his attention back to the young boy infront of him. "Do you happen to know where these individuals are at this moment?" he inquired with a sense of urgency. Harry hid a smile, seeing that Watto''s interest had clearly been piqued.


    Harry''s smile was genuine as he answered. "Well ¡­ I suggested to them last night that if they were serious about making a deal with anyone, they should consider coming back here to hear you out first," he divulged, a sense of anticipation tingling his words. "I think they should be dropping by sometime this morning."


    At the utterance of these words, Harry was taken aback by the sight of Watto''s sly and predatory grin. Watto had detected an opportunity, and Harry''s "actions" had played directly into his hands.


    With a tone of satisfaction, Watto looked down on Harry. "That''s absolutely perfect. There might be hope for you yet, boy," he declared, the hint of approval lacing his words. "The moment they arrive, ensure that you let me know, immediately."


    With that, Watto swiftly pivoted and took flight, heading in the direction of his office. Leaving a smiling Harry standing there, content that the carefully crafted plan unraveled precisely as it had been envisioned.


    Harry immediately set to work unloading and sorting a newly arrived box of droid replacement parts. However, he had scarcely begun when an unusual sensation coursed through him, one that he was sure indicated that Qui-Gon and his companions were approaching. It was an unexpected occurrence, as Harry typically experienced sensations of this strength only when in relation to individuals he knew intimately or when he felt threatened. The group he sensed approaching him now, did not seem to fit either of these categories.


    Qui-Gon''s aura emitted a distinctive and almost otherworldly energy, leaving Harry with the sensation of what he assumed standing next to a malfunctioning hyperspace engine, its protective blast shielding compromised would feel akin to. However, Harry attributed the strength of sensations due to the man being a Jedi.


    Yet, it was the aura surrounding Padme that truly caught his attention. Her presence, he perceived, was far gentler than Qui-Gon''s, but it resonated with an intensity that was unmistakable. It was as though there was much more to her than her role as a handmaiden and confidante to a queen suggested. Harry couldn''t quite fathom why she resonated more with him than a Jedi, but the impression he received left him intrigued.


    In stark contrast to these two vibrant sensations, the presence of Jar Jar left Harry almost unaffected. Especially compared to the other two Harry felt little from him. Similarly, the droid R2-D2 did not register in his perception at all.


    Harry, still perplexed by what he sensed from the approaching visitors, shook his head gently. With determination, he set out to find Watto, knowing that the Toydarian merchant would welcome the opportunity to make it seem as though he had been prepared and ready for their arrival.


    Less than thirty seconds had passed, after Harry emerged from Watto''s office with the toydarian and returned to the main area of the shop then Qui-Gon Jinn, accompanied by his party, made their entrance into the shop.


    Watto, with a voice that carried through the shop, boisterously greeted the party "Ah ¡­ the farmer and his party return!" he declared, a hint of theatricaliyu in his tone. "Have you come back to offer me more Republic credits ¡­ or do you come back with an ¡­ actual offer worth my time?"


    Harry acknowledged Qui-Gon''s gaze with a smile, conveying through his expression that he had done his utmost to prepare Watto and set the bait. With a shared understanding, Qui-Gon redirected his focus toward Watto.


    Harry, however, cast his attention toward Padme. With a subtle wave of his hand, he beckoned her to his side, his gesture inviting her to join him.


    Once she had crossed the shop to join him, Harry led her through a doorway to another room, confident in his earlier conversation with Watto, that he and Qui-Gon would be able to settle terms without needing additional input from him.


    Back in the room filled with droid replacement parts, Harry''s equilibrium was momentarily disrupted when Padme turned to face him, her gaze intense and probing. Her question, delivered with a gentle yet persistent tone, hung in the air, waiting for Harry''s response. "Why are you doing this, Anakin?"


    Harry''s initial response to Padme''s probing question was one of momentary surprise. He met her intense gaze with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?" he asked, attempting to deflect the inquiry, even though he sensed that Padme was not easily swayed by such evasions.


    Undeterred by Harry''s attempt to sidestep the question, Padme continued to scrutinize him before speaking again. She spoke with a firm and knowing tone, her words measured and thoughtful. "Well, I, more than most anyone else, know that things are not always as they appear. However, here you are, assisting strangers without any expectation of payment or favors in return."


    Padme glance around the room, ensuring that their conversation had remained private, before continuing on in a quieter tone. "You know by now that our ship arrived with a queen fleeing her planet, escorted by two Jedi, and yet you offer your help without imposing any conditions ..."


    Harry listened attentively to Padme, his expression thoughtful and contemplative. Matching the intensity of her gaze, he began to respond. "I meant what I said the other day. I believe that doing the right thing is never the wrong thing to do, and helping those in need is a belief that I value."


    He paused, searching for the right words to express something he had not put thought into before she had asked her questions. "But," he eventually continued, "it''s more than just that. Since I met your group, I''ve had a feel that it was important to help you. It feels as if something terrible might occur if I didn''t help, and I couldn''t just ignore that.


    Harry continued to hold Padme''s gaze, his own unwavering as he slowly observed the slight transformation in her expression. The stern mask she had worn moments earlier softened, and an uncertain look briefly flickered across her features.


    With a tone that carried weight began "I know I may appear to be just a slave to you, a young of nine, almost ten. But," he continued, voice filled with conviction, "I''ve seen much evil in my life. I know what happens when it is ignored ¡­ when people chose to do nothing about it. I ¡­ I have been guilty of that in the past and I ¡­ I have to live with the memories of those I care about suffering for that decision." Harry''s gaze remained locked on Padme''s face as he spoke, pausing when he notivced a mixture of surprise and pity on Padme''s face.


    Harry decisively reached out to clasp Padme''s hand. The unexpected gesture caught her by surprise, causing her gaze to drop to their entwined fingers before meeting his gaze once more.


    "I promised to myself that I would not make that mistake again." Harry declared, his voice filled with sincerity and determination. "I will do everything I can to help you, for the simple reason that it is the right thing to do."


    Padme responded in a soft and appreciative tone. "Thank you, Ani ¡­" She glanced down at their still-joined hands, seemingly surprised that they were still together before she slowly began to untangle their fingers.


    Perhaps seeking to alleviate the weight of their intense conversation, Padme offered Harry a genuine and encouraging smile. "You are a boy of many mysteries," she remarked, her eyes still reflecting the depths of her earlier emotions. "I honestly would not have thought when we first met that you might end up being our savior, nor that your life would be nearly as complex as it appears to be."


    Harry acknowledged her statement with a nod, smiling at her understanding.


    "You seem to have lived a life with more difficulties than most," she noted, "and yet ¡­ yet it seems to have not hardened you into a mean person, but instead appears to have made you better."


    Harry chuckled softly and smiled at her, thinking back on the difficulties he had faced even before waking up a slave, "You do not know the half of it."


    Her gaze lingered on him, a mix of curiosity and sympathy evident on her face. "Do you need to talk?" Padme inquired, her voice carrying a genuine concern for his well-being.


    Although he appreciated the offer, Harry responded with a gentle shake of his head, "I am not sure if I will ever be able to tell my story ¡­ certainly not in full anyways," he confessed, "but I do really appreciate the offer ¡­"


    As he trailed off, his attention shifted back to the main room where they had left Qui-Gon bargaining with Watto, "¡­ besides I have a feeling negotiations are soon to be completed," he continued, his gaze returning to Padme, "and a very happy Watto will be coming in here shortly."


    Indeed, as if on cue, Watto, now wearing a very pleased expression on his face, burst into the room, his excitement evident as he called out for Harry.


    "Boy! ¡­ Boy! ¡­ Ah, there you are," exclaimed Watto with elation, his jubilation apparent after what he considered was a successful negotiation. "We have reached a deal! ¡­ A very good deal!" He gestured towards Qui-Gon, as he began describing the newfound arrangement.


    "You will be flying this man''s podracer during the Boonta Eve Classic," Watto continued, his enthusiasm at the deal evident. "I want you to go back with him and take a look at his podracer right now. You can have the rest of the day to inspect it. If it needs any work or if you think you can make it better, let me know. I won''t allow any pod that I am sponsoring to be less than champion level, can I?"


    Turning his full attention to Qui-Gon, "If there are any parts the boy says you need or any work your craft needs ¡­ I fully expect you to let him do his work and to buy whatever parts he recommends from me ¡­ even if just with your Republic credits. Though it may take several years to get rid of those credits without taking a loss on them."


    Qui-Gon nodded respectfully towards the Toydarian, "Of course, we would not think of doing otherwise. As for the credits, I would understand if you choose to charge a convenience fee for the inconvenience."


    Qui-Gon''s willingness to accommodate Watto did not go unnoticed and left the Toydarian with a satisfied smile, no doubt thinking just how much of an inconvenience these credits might be.


    Turning his attention back to Harry, Qui-Gon eagerly addressed him. "Come now Anakin, I look forward to going over ¡­ our podracer with you and hearing what you have to say."


    Kind Regards,


    FavoriteAuthor

 Naming the Podracer

    Over the following days, time seemed to sprint past for Harry, carrying him along on a wave of unexpected enjoyment. He couldn''t recall the last time he had such an exhilarating experience.


    Amidst this thrill, Jar Jar Binks, despite his best intentions, proved to be more of a hindrance than aid. The well-meaning and otherwise enjoyable Gungan often caused mishaps to occur around the podracer, especially whenever he was left unsupervised, resulting in inadvertent damage and disconnections to its crucial components. Harry frequently found himself retracing his steps, fixing what had been inadvertently broken, all before being able to progress further in the construction of his podracer.


    Despite these setbacks, Harry marveled at the remarkable headway he was making with the invaluable assistance of R2D2 and Padme. Padme''s support and R2D2''s expertise were instrumental in keeping his project on track. Harry remained unwavering in his confidence that he would complete the podracer well ahead of the impending race, in spite of Jar Jar''s unintentional disruptions.


    To Harry''s sheer delight, Qui-Gon Jinn had succeeded in persuading Watto to arrange a special opportunity for a brief practice run with the podracer on the eve of the race. Qui-Gon presented this arrangement as an opportunity for Harry to familiarize himself with the mechanics and functionalities of the ''new'' racer that Qui-Gon had provided ¡­ convincing Watto that Harry would fly better if he was more comfortable. Seeing the logic of this the Toydarian had accepted, however, it was not before he extracted a promise from both Qui-Gon and Harry.


    They had been required to promise that Harry wouldn''t push the podracer beyond safe limits or take any foolish risks during the practice, ensuring both his own safety and, what Harry assumed was even more important to Watto, the safety of the podracer before the actual race even began. These were terms that, upon discussion with Harry, Qui-Gon was most willing to agree to, content in knowing they would have an opportunity to fix anything last minute if need be and this could be accomplished without putting the podracer at risk.


    In addition to relishing the progress he was making on his racer, confident that even with the practice run and any time necessary fixing anything he noticed during that practice the racer would be done well in advance of the time he went to bed that night. Harry found himself thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to spend time with and get to know Padme.


    Harry very quickly discovered that Padme was not just a seemingly remarkable individual but also made for fantastic company. Her brilliance shone through in every interaction. She appeared to possess an insatiable drive, never content with idleness but constantly engaged in meaningful conversations, continuously absorbing new knowledge. Whether engrossed in discussions with his mother about their past ¡­ their lives as slaves, conferring in hushed tones with Qui-Gon regarding whatever their plans were once they departed the planet, or simply hanging out with Harry and his friends during their evening visits to inspect his work, Padme constantly displayed that she was never content with simply being and she enjoyed being actively involved in the things going on around her and tried to positively contribute.


    Most significantly, Harry realized that spending time with Padme was aiding in easing his feelings of longing for his friends ¡­ feelings he hadn''t fully realized or acknowledged until he had the chance to spend time in Padme''s company. While she might not have possessed Hermione''s sheer intellectual prowess, Padme shared a profound hunger for knowledge and displayed a similar depth of thought. She exuded a sense of bravery and adventure like Ron, yet without his all to frequent bouts of jealousy. Her kindness and honesty mirrored Luna''s qualities, though she was certainly without Luna''s over-the-top quirkiness. And finally, Harry noticed that Padme''s steadfastness in her convictions and loyalty to her companions echoed Neville, minus any hint of uncertainty or lack of confidence.


    Initially, Harry couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness upon recognizing these parallels between Padme and his friends. However, as these shared qualities became more apparent, he began to perceive them in a different light ¡­ a positive reminder of the cherished attributes of friends he might never see again and he began to take comfort in them.


    Harry quickly found himself growing fond of spending time with Padme, valuing not just her personality but also her treatment of him. Unlike Qui-Gon, who occasionally regarded him as just a child, due to his apparent age, or others who saw him as inferior due to his background as a slave, Padme treated Harry as an equal. Her attitude toward him resonated deeply, fostering a sense of appreciation and comfort that he hadn''t experienced in a while.


    In fact, while spending time with her, Harry found a rare sense of belonging, feeling more like his true self than he had since awakening on this unfamiliar planet.


    - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW -


    Stepping back from the podracer, Harry surveyed the day''s progress with a rush of excitement, exhaling deeply in anticipation. R2D2 responded with a sequence of beeps, and Harry glanced over to the droid, nodding in agreement. "You''re right, R2D2. I''m pretty sure our work here is done, and it looks fantastic. I believe she''s all set for the test run later today. And just in case, we''ll have plenty of time to work out any issues and make adjustments before the race tomorrow."


    No sooner than Harry finished his sentence, before he could delve further into his thoughts, the familiar voices of his friends echoed through the courtyard. Kitster and Wald were the first to enter, offering enthusiastic waves in Harry''s direction. They were followed by Aimee and Seek who were right behind the two. The quartet had made it a routine to visit after completing their day''s tasks, hoping to persuade Harry to join them for some fun or adventure around the settlement.


    However, over the past couple days, Harry had been completely absorbed in ensuring the podracer''s completion for the upcoming Boonta Eve Classic. Consequently, he hadn''t had much opportunity to hang out or have fun with his friends. Instead, they often lingered nearby, observing Harry and R2D2''s work, engaging in conversations with Padme, or finding amusement in Jar Jar Binks'' antics.


    As they entered the courtyard, Wald cast a curious glance at the podracer, then shifted his attention to Harry, who stood a few paces away from the machine.


    "Hey Ani ¡­ how''s it going? Do you need a break? We were going to ¡­" Wald''s words trailed off as he noticed the satsisfied expression on Harry''s face. His gaze snapped back to the podracer. "¡­ oh, is she finished?" he inquired, picking up on the satisfaction evident on Harry''s face.


    Harry responded with a nod, his grin widening, effectively confirming Wald''s question without needing words.


    Aimee, who spent most of her days in a mechanics shop, looked the ship over, before turning her focus to Harry before she hesitantly began. "Your racer ¡­ it looks different ¡­" She cautiously approached the podracer, scrutinizing several of the features that Harry and R2D2 had diligently worked on for the past few days. She also took note of the areas Harry had been working on alone during the nights, after everyone had gone to sleep for the night. After inspecting it closely, she straightened up and directed her gaze at Harry. "¡­ definitely different from the schematics you first showed us when you started this project of yours. Are you certain this thing will hold up in the race ... without suddenly exploding on you tomorrow? You''ve been at this for what feels like an eternity, and suddenly it''s ready the day before the biggest race of the year."


    "I''ll be fine, I''m absolutely certain nothing will go wrong ¡­ but I do have the practice run this evening just to ensure everything''s in order," Harry reassured, sporting a smile as he noticed Aimee''s focused attention on a particular feature of the podracer. Her unwavering inspection eventually piqued the interest of the others present, alerting them to what she had noticed.


    As Kitster attempted to identify what had captured Aimee''s attention, his eyes widened, and he became the next person, aside from R2D2 and Aimee, to understand what he had done.


    "Ani! What have you done?! It seems like you''ve completely removed all the heavy shielding around the engine cowling and left only the thin insultating layer. I''d be surprised if that could even withstand a rock hitting your racer at high speed, let alone collisions with other racers on the course. Please tell me the heavier shielding is somewhere nearby and you just haven''t installed it yet," Kitster exclaimed, a mix of alarm and concern evident in his tone.


    Harry shook his head, wearing a confident smile. "Nope, the racer''s all done and good to go. I''ll be heading out for the practice run shortly, as soon as Qui-Gon and Padme return, just to ensure everything''s in perfect order, but unless I find any problems I think its ready." He paused and looked from the engine to his friends, "As for the heavy shielding, I took it off on purpose. My goal was to prevent the engine from overheating and keep the craft as light as possible ¡­"


    Harry heard Seek scoff from the back of the group, "It won''t survive long enough to overheat."


    Choosing to ignore the older boy, Harry kept talking, "¡­ realistically, my ship wouldn''t have the strength to push other ships out of the way anyway, so I''m relying on increased speed and maneuverability by keeping it lighter."


    However, Kitster expressed his concern with a shake of his head. "Sure, it''ll be lighter, but seriously, Ani. With no heavy shielding, one impact from another racer or even a stray rock that bounces up on the course, at the speed you are travelling at, could spell disaster for you. You can''t be serious about this. You know the moment Sebulba catches wind of your modifications, he''ll target you without hesitation. He sees you as his biggest competition, and this alteration has given him the perfect opportunity. It won''t even look like he attempted to kill you ¡­ just a slight collision, and his engines will crush yours. You''ll either explode when they do or lose control entirely when he smashes them to pieces ¡­ Even your luck has its limits."


    Harry responded with a slight smile and a shake of his head, the memory of the past few evenings flooding back to him.


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    He recalled staying up late almost every night since he arrived, poring over the books he had discovered in the Mokeskin pouch. However, it was the excitement he felt when stumbling upon a protective spell two nights prior that remained forefront and vivid in his mind. It had ignited an immediate thrill, prompting him to cautiously begin practicing the spell in his room, curious to explore whether magic could mix with the diverse technologies prevalent in this galaxy.


    Reflecting on his experiences back on Earth, he remembered constantly hearinf that the reason Hogwarts appeared so antiquated was due to the fundamental incompatibility between magic and technology. Save for a remarkable few exceptions, combining the two often resulted in catastrophic outcomes ¡­ explosions that could rival even Seamus''s most impressive mishaps. Knowing this, Harry had been keen to see if magic had the ability to combine with technology in the galaxy, before attempting to gauge the spell''s compatibility with the components on the podracer. He knew this plan was already fraught with risks; he had no intention of turning his racer into what essentially amounted to an unstable bomb. Knowing the last thing he needed was to introduce more instability into an already dangerous situation.


    To his surprise and immense delight, Harry discovered that in the majority of cases, his magic didn''t seem to affect or disrupt the functioning of the technology he cast spells on. Although, there were a couple of instances where his attempts at using magic on a piece of technology was ineffective, as the magic refused to have its expected effect. However, more astonishingly, was that there were certain items ¡­ items previously collected by Anakin due to the fact that they had ¡­ given him an uncanny sensation, a sensation that no one else seemed to feel ¡­ that reacted unexpectantly when combined with his magic. When he experimented with using magic on these specific items, they became notably more potent or efficient. The first time this had happened Harry worried he had done something wrong but as the results repeated themselves and Harry found the similarity within the items that seemed to cause this he decided there was something more at work here then he could explain.


    Initially fascinated by this odd phenomenon, Harry was eager to understand its cause. However, the pressing need to complete the podracer for the upcoming race demanded his immediate attention. As a result, he decided to set aside his curiosity, temporarily at least, deciding that he could look into this once the race was completed, realizing that once Qui-Gon, Padme, Jar Jar, and R2D2 departed, he would have plenty of time to look into the mystery behind why only certain items displayed such unique reactions to his magic.


    In the meanwhile, Harry settled on accepting and being content with the knowledge that most items could seamlessly integrate with his magic, and more importantly, that none of them turned explosive, at least for the time being.


    As such, Harry had begun practicing the spell he had found during the quiet evenings, after everyone had gone to sleep for the night, and occasionally during the day when he could steal a moment to himself. He dedicated himself to his practice with a fervor that rivaled even Hermione and he was pretty sure would have impressed her. By the end of the initial day after he started practicing the spell on small electronics in his room, he felt comfortable with his capability to cast the spell proficiently. Without delay, he began testing it on each of the components on the podracer that would require heavy shielding for protection.


    The sheer elation Harry experienced upon witnessing every single item successfully retain the spell without any adverse effects was overwhelming. His joy was so immense that he couldn''t contain himself and, in a moment of sheer exuberance, he shouted out loud, forgetting momentarily that it was the dead of night. Luckily, his outburst only roused R2D2, who promptly investigated the source of the disturbance. To pacify the curious droid, Harry managed to convince R2D2 that he was simply examining the ship and assured him that he''d be inside shortly.


    By the following night, Harry was confident that he had sufficiently mastered the spell ¡­ or as close as he figured he would get before the race. With this belief, he removed his prior enchantments and diligently recast the stronger spells, his smile widening in satisfaction when the result turned out exactly as he had hoped it would. As he gazed at the podracer, a smile etched across his face, Harry was assured that he had successfully cast an unbreakable charm on most of the intricate components crucial to his racer, ones that would have previously required the heavy protective plating.


    When Harry had found the spell he was excited as he recognized the dual benefits this charm could offer for the impending race. Firstly, by rendering the components unbreakable with the use of this spell, he was able to get rid of some of the heavy metal protective shielding that was included solely to protect the delicate vital electronics beneath, knowing that the elimination of the weighty shielding would drastically reduce the racer''s overall weight, promising a significant boost in speed.


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    Additionally, he was confident that the absence of these bulky, cumbersome metal plates would reduce the risk of the turbine overheating, as it allowed for better ventilation. This, in turn, would conserve energy and give him a larger emergency reserve for potential daring maneuvers or risky actions later in the race.


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    With a smile, Harry brushed aside the memories that had briefly filled his mind, shifting his focus from the exposed engine to his companion, Wald, and then back to the podracer. He couldn''t help but think about the reactions of his competitors when they saw the seemingly unprotected state of his engines, particularly the delicate electronics left entirely exposed. He had a strong suspicion that many racers, especially Sebulba, would believe this apparent vulnerability to be an opportunity. They would likely expend both figurative and literal energy attempting to unsuccessfully destroy his podracer by repeatedly colliding with the exposed areas. Believing that he had either installed a personal forcefield to safeguard the area, leading them to incessantly collide with the exposed section, aiming to drain the energy from his engines, or they might conclude that Harry had consciously chosen to forgo protecting the ships, hoping for more speed and the other racers would assume that a single collision would obliterate his podracer.


    In either scenario, Harry anticipated a rough start to the race. He was confident that a significant portion of his fellow racers would aggressively attempt to collide with his ship, early and often, undoubtedly trying to eliminate him from the race as swiftly as possible, reducing their competiton. Harry knew he would have to brace himself for the inevitable onslaught, knowing that he''d need to navigate through a storm of attempted collisions in the initial stages of the race.


    Turning back to his friends, TTHarry addressed them with a reassuring smile, his expression calm and collected. "Don''t worry about my ship. I''ll get that practice run in as soon as Qui-Gon is back ¡­ want to make sure all the ¡­ recent ¡­ additions are working together without problem. But I''m pretty sure everything will be good for the race tomorrow."


    His words were met with disbelieving headshakes from all his friends, as they called him crazy and headed off to play their games. That is all his friends except Kitster, who stayed behind with Harry in the courtyard, while R2D2 busied itself, welding a piece of metal to the side of the ship ¡­ a purely decorative addition that Harry had just decided to include that morning.


    With a furrowed brow, Kitster turned to face Harry, his expression wrought with concern and genuine worry. "Ani, are you absolutely sure this is the right move? They do have a point. This seems like an awfully risky bet. You''re an great pilot, but this ... it feels like an unnecessary risk. They''re right, you know. Even a slight collision could ¡­ well I wouldn''t envy your ship. There might not even be enough left over to feed the bantha mites. I don''t want to see ..." Kitster paused, his eyes reflecting a blend of apprehension and fear. "... you don''t deserve to put yourself in harm''s way just for the sake of others'' entertainment or the benefit of a group of strangers."


    In response to Kitster''s heartfelt concerns, Harry regarded his friend with appreciation. "I promise I don''t plan to get hurt or die in this race, Kitster. I''ve heard you''ve got money riding on me, and I plan to win it, kinda hard if I am dead a few feet off the starting line. For what it''s worth ¡­ I''m pretty sure they won''t be able to get rid of me that easily, even though I am pretty sure they will try, especially Sebulba."


    His friend looked at him with an almost pleading expression, "Then why race without the protective casings on your ship? From the few ships I''ve seen brought to the track this morning and the chat in and around the cantinas, it already sounds like your ship will be among the smallest on the course. Ani, even if you manage to dodge the other racers right off the start, all it would take is one small rock bouncing up and damaging something on the podracer. Best-case scenario, you''ll be stranded, trying to repair your ship in the middle of nowhere, without tools, on the side of a dune. And worst-case scenario ..." Kitster''s voice trailed off, but the implications were unmistakable.


    Harry shook his head, offering a reassuring smile to his friend. He chose not to delve into specifics, confident that even if he knew what to say he would never be believed, and instead simply responded, "Don''t worry, Kitster. Even if any of them can even catch up to me, they can try all they want to run me off the track, but they will just be wasting their energy." He said confidently.


    Kitster initially opened his mouth to protest Harry''s decision, yet again, but eventually closed it, realizing the futility of arguing further. He shrugged his shoulders, acknowledging that attempting to dissuade his friend at this juncture would likely be fruitless.


    After a brief pause, Kitster glanced back at Harry and softly remarked, "Well ... then you better stay very far ahead of them and watch out for flying rocks." His comment prompted both boys to burst into laughter, breaking the tension with their shared amusement.


    Following several minutes of unrestrained laughter, they gradually regained their composure. Harry wiped away the tears from his eyes, his smile persisting as he looked at Kitster. "That''s the plan, Kitster. That''s the plan."


    Kitster nodded and redirected his gaze toward the podracer. "So ... do you really believe you''ll do alright in the race? Are you actually confident about winning?" he inquired.


    Harry grinned and nodded, "I''m going to be betting everything I have on winning this race. If I do, I''ll be able to secure freedom for my mom, and maybe even for myself. Although, even if I do win ¡­ or maybe, especially if I do win, I doubt Watto will ever let me go ¡­ I wish I had the money and could have bought our freedom before the race, but at least my mom will finally be free."


    Listening to Harry''s determination, Kitster nodded in understanding. "Well, if you''re that confident, I''ll place my bet on you too. I meant what I said earlier ¡­ you might just be a human, but you''re the best racer anyone has ever seen on the track. I''ll be cheering you on, Ani," he affirmed with a smile, before glancing around the courtyard. "Now, are you sure there''s nothing I can do to help you before you head out?"


    Harry shook his head, wearing a smile. "I''m all set, and the podracer is ready too. Just waiting on Qui-Gon to return so we can transport it to the alternate course for my test run. Once that''s done, as long as there is nothing I need to do, it''ll be dropped off at the track. R2D2 offered to stay with it overnight ... you know, to ensure no one accidentally bumps into the racer or anything like that."


    Kitster glanced towards the astromech droid and nodded thoughtfully. "Hmmm ¡­ well it is probably a safer choice to leave it alone, under the watch of a single astromech droid, in an arena accessible to all the other supercompetitive racers and any of Tatooine''s gangs ¡­ than to leave it anywhere near Jar Jar."


    Harry looked at his friend in surprise before breaking into laughter. "Actually," he said with a smile, "technically, Jar Jar offered to stay with the podracer overnight at the track. I think it was his way of trying to make up for the damages he caused earlier. But, um... I felt a little bit ¡­ safer with R2D2 watching it rather than Jar Jar. I''m pretty sure R2D2 will do an excellent job."


    Turning to the astromech droid, who seemed to have completed its welding task and had rolled over to the two boys, Harry addressed it. "Isn''t that right, R2? You''ll keep the ship safe?" He posed the question, prompting a series of positive sounding beeps from the droid.


    Kitster smiled warmly. "I''m happy to hear that. I feel much safer betting on you knowing that someone will be guarding the podracer overnight and that not only will it not be Jar Jar but he won''t be anywhere near the racer. Well ... I guess I''m looking forward to the race tomorrow. I hope the practice run goes smoothly. Make sure you get a good sleep tonight, Ani," he expressed.


    After Kitster departed in the direction the rest of their friends had gone, Harry found himself with time on his hands, not much to do except rush to his room and retrieve one of the books from his Mokeskin pouch. He settled in, content to delve into various chapters on nonverbal magic until Qui-Gon and the arranged assistance arrived to transport the podracer to the practice area well outside of the settlement. While not convenient to get to, the area Watto had suggested to Qui-Gon was chosen due to its relatively sparse obstacles, reducing the risk of a crash should any issue arise with the steering or the engines. Additionally, Watto had assured them that the remote setting would prevent other racers from observing Harry''s test run, thereby preventing them from scouting his podracer to try and uncover its strengths and weaknesses before the race began.


    Less than half an hour from the moment Harry settled down to read, Qui-Gon entered the courtyard, accompanied by Padme, both riding atop eopies, the large, familiar beasts of burden commonly seen on Tatooine. Strapped to their eopies were unactivated anti-grav pods, part of the arrangements for transporting the podracer.


    Following Harry''s directions and with the helpful input from R2D2 and C3PO, they swiftly readied the podracer for transport within a mere ten minutes. Soon, they were on their way out of the settlement, en route to the location recommended by Watto. Despite the blistering suns nearly overhead and the remoteness of their destination, they managed to reach the designated area within the hour.


    Seated in the pilot''s position within the podracer, Harry couldn''t contain his smile as he surveyed what he had achieved. Regardless of the forthcoming outcome, though he felt confident, he was certain he was going to enjoy the events of the following day.


    With a determined nod, Harry gazed ahead at the vast expanse of empty terrain unfolding before them. Lowering his focus to the array of controls before him, he reached out and flicked the switch that ignited the engines. His grin widened as the anticipated vibration and hum echoed through the craft, signifying the transfer of energy to the massive Radon-Ulzer engines. The engines quivered in readiness, eagerly awaiting Harry''s command to disengage the brakes and allow his ship to jump forward as though it were an untamed and newly liberated Massiff, from the Dune Sea.


    Glancing over to where Qui-Gon and Padme stood on a slightly elevated dune to the side, Harry observed the older man beginning to count down with hand gestures. The mounting excitement within him matched the anticipation he felt while observing Qui-Gon''s movements.


    His excitement reached its peak when Qui-Gon signaled for Harry to start. Fueled by eagerness, Harry forcefully pushed the thruster bars forward, channeling full power to the engines. Yet, his excitement was swiftly extinguished, mirroring the abrupt halt of the engines. It took Harry a split second to realize that the sudden engine shutdown resulted from an overflow of fuel, depriving the engines of the necessary oxygen.


    Reacting swiftly, Harry mentally smacked his head in frustration as he retracted the thruster bars and, after a ten second count, reactivated the stalled engines. Feeling the Radon-Ulzer engines rumble back to life, he couldn''t help but offer a wry smile. He was immensely grateful that this hiccup occurred during the practice run rather than in front of the tens of thousands expected to witness the race the next day. He was relieved, not only to spare himself the embarrassment but also because in a high-speed race like this, the delay caused by restarting the engines could be the fine line between victory and defeat. This realization left him content in the knowledge that he wouldn''t repeat this mistake when it truly mattered, recognizing the critical importance of seamless performance in the impending race.


    Top of Form


    With a sheepish grin, Harry glanced toward Qui-Gon, who sported a puzzled expression. Shrugging his shoulders, Harry nodded to assure Qui-Gon that everything was under control. Redirecting his attention to the instrument panel before him, he pushed the thruster bar forward, a bit more cautiously this time, allowing the engine to engage smoothly.


    A surge of exhilaration coursed through Harry as the podracer leapt forward. A radiant smile spread across his face as the craft bolted away from his starting point, propelling him across the sands of Tatooine. From their elevated position on the dune, Harry was positive that Qui-Gon and Padme observed him streaking away, leaving behind nothing but a cloud of dust and the fading echo of the sounds of his engines. In a matter of moments, he was certain he had passed beyond the range of normal human eyesight.


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    That evening, following a rather remarkable meal orchestrated by Qui-Gon ¡­ although the man remained ¡­ somewhat evasive when asked about the particulars of how he obtained the meal, Harry found himself seated alongside his mother and Kitster, who had joined them for the feast. Engaged in conversation were Padme, Qui-Gon, and Jar Jar, each sharing anecdotes from their respective experiences.


    While Harry found all the stories interesting and found himself thoroughly enjoying the stories from Jar Jar, Harry eagerly absorbed all the tales, and he found himself particularly enthralled by Padme''s narratives detailing her life at the palace and on Naboo. However, certain aspects of her references to being a handmaiden ¡­ seemed off to him. Despite this, no one else seemed to notice anything amiss or seemed to question her accounts, so Harry allowed himself to immerse himself in the captivating stories. Padme''s stories painted a picture of an extraordinarily vibrant life, one far more exciting than his own experiences on Tatooine and leagues beyond his life before attending Hogwarts.


    Her recounting revealed a life full with meetings and interactions with dignitaries hailing from across her sector of space. Yet, what stood out the most was her profound care for the people on her planet and the idea of doing what was right. Harry couldn''t help but admire Padme''s dedication and compassion. He pondered on the Queen''s astuteness or perhaps her fortune in surrounding herself with individuals of Padme''s caliber, deciding he was looking forward to meeting her, as he had not yet had the opportunity since Qui-Gon had decided for safety reasons it was safer to leave the Queen aboard the ship, which was hidden well outside of the settlement limits, with her guards and his Padawan.


    At that moment, Kitster interjected into Harry''s musings, "So, Ani, ¡­ I see you finally have given a name to your podracer?"


    This inquiry prompted Padme to turn her gaze toward Harry, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "You haven''t named a podracer before?"


    Harry glanced toward Padme and shrugged nonchalantly. "It''s considered to be bad luck or tempting fate by most racers, so most pilots and owners just don''t name their podracers. The superstition is, these machines usually last for just a race or two, maybe three at the most, before either the podracer itself gets wrecked or the rider faces a serious injury. Racers tend to be ... quite superstitious about naming," he explained with a chuckle, echoed by Kitster, while his mother offered a slightly more hesitant laugh in response.


    Kitster chimed in, directing his gaze at Padme. "He''s serious! Even those droids that race have their odd superstitions!" He pivoted to face Harry, wearing an expression of curiosity. "So, you must be pretty confident about this ¡­ considering you''re willing to give your racer a name."


    Padme turned her attention toward Kitster, her face bearing a questioning expression. "Confident about what? Winning the race?"


    Kitster chuckled lightly. "Well, I certainly hope he wins! I''ve placed a bet on him. But I was just talking about finishing the race."


    Harry shook his head, noticing Padme''s horrified expression. "You haven''t ... haven''t even ..." Her words trailed off as she shook her head in disbelief, her expression morphing from shock to anger as she started shifting her gaze toward Qui-Gon Jinn.


    "Just how much due diligence did you put into this plan of yours before deciding on a course, Master Jinn?" Padme queried icily, her tone cutting through the warm evening air of Tatooine. "Do you actually understand the repercussions if he fails? The risk we are undertaking? And yet, you''ve wagered everything ¡­ our ship, our only way off this planet, our only way to get help for my planet ¡­ on a racer who hasn''t even completed a race ¡­ let alone won one..."


    Qui-Gon exchanged glances between Harry and Padme, a pause hanging in the air before he responded. "As I''ve mentioned previously, young Padme, whether we possess a ship without an engine or no ship at all, it makes little difference. However ..." He paused, his gaze shifting toward Harry''s mother before slowly continuing, "... however, I have a feeling that everything will unfold better than anticipated. I am confident in my feelings about this."


    Padme shook her head in frustration. "You ¡­ you have a feeling about this? Master Jinn, I''ve followed your guidance so far, understanding your reasoning for the lengths we''ve gone to. Yet, this seems an incredibly significant risk. You''re not infallible."


    Qui-Gon nodded solemnly. "That is indeed true and I don''t deny it, I am fallible. After all, I''m just a man. However, I put my trust in the Living Force ..."


    Kitster shot a puzzled glance at Harry, silently mouthing, "What in a Tatooinian sandstorm is a living force?"


    Before Harry could even hazard a guess and attempt to answer, Qui-Gon continued, "... and it hasn''t led me astray thus far in my journey. Besides, at this point, what''s done is done, and the Queen has faith in me. You should as well."


    He saw Padme''s quiet scoff, shake of her head, and heard her murmur, "I wouldn''t be so sure of that ¡­"


    Perhaps sensed tension rising, Qui-Gon redirected the conversation to Harry, seeking to diffuse the situation. "So, you''ve named your podracer. What have you named her?"


    Harry''s smile widened, looking at the older man, remembering the feeling of his first podrace on this world and remembering the only time he had ever felt such a rush ¡­ the only time he had felt such unparalleled freedom ¡­ Smiling to himself at those memories ¡­ and the memory of the piece of metal that Harry had asked R2D2 to weld onto the podracer earlier that day. A piece of metal that had the name etched on it.


    Recollecting those memories, he responded, "I named her... The Firebolt."


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 The Boonta Eve Classic

    The next morning, Harry, along with his mother, who was as nervous as always, and his new friends were among the first to eagerly arrive at the track, shortly after the twin sons of the planet rose above the horizon.


    As they entered the bay where the race organizers had set aside space for the ships to be stored overnight and last-minute work could be done on the podracers, Harry couldn''t help but smile, excited at the opportunity to race in the Boonta Eve Classic.


    Looking across the pit, Harry saw several podracers that also appeared to have been left here overnight, as his had been, and recognized several of the podracer designs as those belonging to Ben Quadinaros and Clegg Holdfast, among the handful of ships that were unfamiliar to him. Those he assumed belonged to podracers that had been drawn to Tatooine due to the promise of the prize for the race which frankly Harry thought was outrageous.


    As Harry counted the eight ships that had been stored overnight, he was sure that the number of ships in this bay would at least double by the time the race started.


    Seeing his craft, which looked impressively sleek, if undersized, compared to the other racers, a fact which Harry was positive would have been the case even if he had not been able to remove most of the protective shielding around the engine and other delicate components on the ship, Harry smiled.


    Harry started walking over to his podracer, intent on making sure R2D2 hadn''t had any trouble watching over his ship during the night but had barely taken two steps when he felt the large hand of Qui-Gon on his shoulder stopping him and causing him to spin around.


    "Are you ready, Anakin?" He asked, staring.


    Harry nodded, wordlessly, eyes intense and unblinking.


    Qui-Gon smiled, "That is good. I feel ¡­ something significant is approaching ¡­ but no worries I am pretty sure it is unrelated to the race ¡­ remember to trust your instincts and I have no doubt you will win this."


    Padme stepped up beside the Jedi and smiled at Harry, "We will be cheering for you Ani ¡­ all our hope rests with you." She said, shooting a quick glare to Qui-Gon. "However ¡­ after seeing you yesterday in the podracer, I am confident you can do it ¡­" She paused and let her smile slowly creep back onto her face, easing the seriousness of the conversation. " ¡­ just remember not to stall your engines, right off the start ¡­ that might just be a little embarrassing, especially in front of the huge crowd." She finished with a laugh.


    Harry looked to the ground for a second before looking up and smiling at her, "I''ll be careful. Won''t make that mistake ¡­ again." He finished as he chuckled.


    She began to turn to look towards Qui-Gon but Harry continued, "For what it''s worth, I will win this race. I won''t let you down. I know how important this is to you ¡­ to your group."


    Padme looked at Harry intensely and several seconds passed before she nodded her head in gratitude.


    Qui-Gon nodded as well and smiled, "I know you won''t. Thanks for taking this risk, Anakin. Now ¡­" he paused to quickly glance at Harry''s mother before looking back to Harry, " ¡­ now I''m going to head off to find Watto and ¡­ have a brief chat with him about ¡­ we; no need to worry about that. But I''ll take Jar Jar, so he doesn''t end up getting into any trouble down here. One less thing for you to worry about."


    Jar Jar began to protest but Qui-Gon cut him off and indicated that they were leaving to find Watto.


    With an unhappy harrumph, Jar Jar turned to follow him, in the process accidentally knocking over an entire tray of tools and parts which had been sitting on a bench behind him, causing Mars Guo''s pit team to run over frantically yelling at the accident-prone Gungan, before Qui-Gon separated the individuals from Jar Jar and physically grabbed him around the shoulders and dragged him off.


    Harry was once more about to head off to R2D2 before he caught the expression his mother was giving him, "Please be careful Ani. You know how much I worry. I''m so proud of what you have been able to accomplish but I long for the days when I never have to watch you take risks like this."


    He opened his mouth to respond but she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I know, I know. This is for a good cause ¡­" She paused and nodded at Padme, " ¡­ and honestly I am glad he is able to help and beyond proud as his mother of what he is doing ¡­ but that doesn''t stop a mother from worrying."


    She turned and nodded her head towards Harry, "And don''t even think of suggesting that I just stay home and avoid watching. You know I can''t. I''ve watched every time you have raced and nothing worse than a bump on your head has ever happened to you. There is no way I could just stay at home ¡­ I''d just be a pile of nerves ¡­ and if something was to happen ¡­"


    Harry laughed and embraced her. "Don''t worry, even I know I could never win that argument and convince you to not be here ¡­ besides I kind of enjoy you being here, you are pretty much my good luck charm."


    This caused his mother to smile and fully embrace him, before releasing him and taking a step back, a big smile still evident on her face.


    "Well ... I''ll let you take a look at your racer. Good luck Ani."


    With that she turned and headed off in the direction that Qui-Gon, with Jar Jar in tow, had left minutes before, leaving Padme and Harry behind.


    Smiling at Padme, Harry pointed in the direction of his podracer, "Well I better go check on the podracer. Want to make sure it and your droid are alright, and nothing happened during the night ¡­ you can come with me if you want."


    Seeing her nod, Harry led his way towards the pit he had been assigned for his podracer, weaving his way through the mess that occupied the space between him and the pit.


    When they finally arrived, Harry greeted R2D2 who excitedly welcomed the two of them and let them know that other than one pit droid who stopped by to borrow a hydrospanner, no one else had come close to the podracer and there had been nothing out of ordinary to report.


    Harry nodded, "Thanks R2 for spending the night with the podracer ¡­ not that I was worried about Jar Jar ¡­ but I am glad it was you and not him."


    R2D2 beeped excitedly as it bounced back and forth between its legs.


    However, a voice from behind Harry surprised him and caused him to spin around.


    "Shoorra jakaal ka''ssik! Pathetic child. Your racer looks as pathetic as that malfunctioning droid in front of you. You can''t be serious about entering that piece of garbage."


    Harry completed his turn and nodded at the familiar form of Sebulba. "Good morning, Sebulba." Harry replied ignoring the Durg''s insults. "Ready for the race?"


    The Durg spat on the ground in front of him. "Rrash kasska rish! Your ship won''t even make it out of the starting gate and if it did I bet it wouldn''t survive an accidental bump."


    Harry shook his head, "So then why are you here Sebulba? Come to check out the competition."


    Sebulba shook his head violently staring at Harry, "Your ship? Competition? It''s not even worth trying to ¡­" he paused to look down at the hydrospanner that he was carrying in his hand which he had kept partially hidden behind him, before looking up to Harry, " ¡­ to view your ship and find out its weaknesses. Its weakness is you, little slave boy."


    Out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw Padme''s face harden as she took a half step forward.


    Smiling to himself, Harry gently put his hand on her forearm, to stop anything from happening, before looking back to Sebulba.


    Slowly and purposefully, Harry lowered his vision to the tool in Sebulba''s hand, making sure the Durg knew that he saw it, before looking back up at him, "Well ¡­ Sebulba, I guess since my podracer is not worth ¡­ inspecting ¡­ perhaps you''ll leave us alone. I''m sure there are other ships you''ll want to ¡­ inspect ¡­ before the race. Maybe others you think are actually competition. Need to make sure you have the advantage after all. Don''t want the embarrassment of a loss after all ¡­"


    Harry smiled seeing the rage cross Sebulba''s face and as the Durg took a step towards him, Harry tilted his head slightly indicating the Gamorrean guards that were littered through the bay to prevent pre-race emotions from escalating.


    Seeing the Durg stop in his tracks, Harry turned to Padme, ignoring the spew of Durgish insults, and guided her to his podracer, R2D2 following slightly behind them.


    Arriving at his podracer, Padme looked over her shoulder, a look of concern on her face, "Aren''t you a little worried about what he might do Ani?"


    Harry shrugged his shoulders. "The fact that he let me see the hydrospanner in his hand shows he doesn''t actually think of me as a serious threat in the race. He might have come over, planning to sabotage my podracer, but apparently, he doesn''t think my podracer is worth the effort. And with the Gamorreans in the pit he wouldn''t start an actual fight here. The race means too much to him."


    Padme looked at him shocked, "How can you be so relaxed about that?"


    Harry smiled, "Well I''m confident in my chances and my podracer, but more importantly, I''m doing this for something, for someone ¡­ you and Qui-Gon. I know there is a lot on the line and I won''t fail. Not sure what my life will be like but I won''t let you down. I meant what I said before, I promise that I''m going to win this race."


    Padme stared at him for almost a full minute, appraising him more intensely than previously, before finally smiling, "Thanks Ani ¡­ I mean it. I really do ¡­ the Queen really does."


    Looking over to R2D2 she said, "Well I better head back to meet up with Qui-Gon, I think I remember the directions to the box he said we''d be sitting in with Watto." Turning back to Harry, she shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe look over the ship once more with R2, just to make sure that Durg didn''t do anything while you weren''t looking ¡­ better safe than sorry."


    With that she turned and headed off towards the stands that he had watched Qui-Gon head off to previously, leaving R2D2 and Harry behind watching her go.


    When she disappeared from sight up the stairs, Harry looked to R2D2 and nodded as made their way over to the podracer, recognizing the wisdom in her words, performed a complete check of the podracer to ensure that no ''accidental sabotage'' had occurred.


    Fifteen minutes later, Harry climbed to his feet and wiped of the dust, smiling to himself seeing that the podracer was in perfect condition.


    Deciding there was nothing else pressing to do, and hearing the sounds of other podracers staring up, Harry jumped into the cockpit and began the prerace engine shakedown to confirm everything was in good working condition and to warm up the engines so they''d be able to run optimally right as soon as the race started.


    - HP ¨C SW ¨C HP ¨CSW - HP ¨C SW - HP ¨C SW - HP ¨C SW ¨C


    Over the past hour Harry had completed the engine shakedown and all final checks, and he was confident that his podracer was ready to go. A sentiment he shared, as he found himself almost bouncing in his seat in the cockpit of the podracer, the anticipation of the Boonta Eve Classic coursing through him like a current.


    As Harry looked around him, he felt the familiar hum of the engines and the scent of engine exhaust enveloped him heightening his focus.


    However, he froze, as a dark foreboding presence caught his attention. As Harry''s eyes scanned the crowd, trying to pinpoint the origin of the sensation, he was surprised when they landed on ¡­ a probe droid, floating off by itself at the edge of the pit.


    Harry shook his head in confusion. He had certainly felt the imprint of an owners emotions or intentions on droids before, especially ones that had been in their possession for a while and especially if strong emotions. But these feelings were always significantly muted compared to the emotions from the actual person, as if hearing a faint echo from far away. But as Harry stared at the droid he felt feelings of hate and anger as strong ¡­ stronger than any such emotions he had felt from a flesh and blood individual before.


    Harry''s brow furrowed as he stared at the droid, confident that the feelings were indeed from the droid. As he continued staring at the droid, he noticed that the droid seemed to be scanning the crowd rather than the track or the podracers as the other probe droids in the area were.


    A feeling of ice gripped Harry as he wondered if whatever misfortune that had happened to Qui-Gon and Padme and their group on Naboo had managed to follow them here.


    Harry shook off the chills along his spine and stood up in the cockpit of his podracer. Looking towards the box he knew Qui-Gon, Padme, and the others were in, he began to wave and capture their attention. After a second, he saw the figures of Kitster and Jar Jar began waving back, likely assuming that Harry was waving to say hello.


    This caused Harry to grit his teeth in annoyance as he kept waving, relieved when eventually he saw Qui-Gon and Padme make their way to the edge of their box, looking at him.


    Seeing all their eyes on him, Harry stopped his waving and began pointing and gesturing in the direction of the probe droid.


    However, before they began to follow his pointing, expressions of concern filled their faces as they began waving frantically, pointing above him. This caused Harry to look up and see the countdown had begun and in all his excitement he had not heard the countdown noises or the announcer calling out.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Knowing he had done all he could at the moment, Harry dropped to his seat and began struggling with his harness. In fact he had just finished buckling the safety harness as he heard the gong sound out signaling the start of the race.


    With the excitement of the last few moments, Harry reached out aggressively for the throttle ¡­ only remembering at the last moment the need to not push it fully down, narrowly averting an embarrassing start to the race.


    As he slowly pushed the throttle his podracer jumped off the starting line and joined all of the other podracers as they sped away from the stands.


    As he gained distance from the starting line, he felt his concern about the dark presence of the probe droid dissolve into the roar of engine sounds and the chaotic energy that accompanied every single podrace''s opening moments, knowing that he had done all he could and as such it was up to the others to hopefully decipher his intended meaning and the best way he could get back to help was to finish this race as soon as possible.


    Nodding his head and pushing aside the lingering unease, Harry channeled his concentration into the race as the podracers surged forward, relying on his reflexes and feelings to steer and avoid the small obstacles that littered the opening section of the race and the other racers, whose podracers all seemed to tower over his own.


    However, slowly Harry found himself slowly but surely gaining ground on the two racers currently jockeying for the lead, smiling to himself as he had managed to close the distance so quickly.


    Unfortunately, before he could attempt to overtake Sebulba and Gasgano while they were distracted with each other, Harry saw the bend in the track signifying the next leg of the course which was comprised of flying through tight rocky canyons without much room to maneuver.


    As they approached the rocky canyons, Harry had found that he had closed the distance but as expected he was a little more than a hair breadth behind where he knew he had needed to be in order to attempt passing the two frontrunners. As such he settled into third place as they entered the canyons, knowing that had he tried to jump into the lead for this section, his podracer certainly would have been clipped and he would have spun into one of the canyon walls. And while his podracer might have survived the collision even at these speeds thanks to the enchantments he had put on it, he was fairly certain there would not be enough left of him to even began to identify.


    As such he settled comfortably into place behind the two and carefully navigated through the section of the race, keeping close to second place Sebulba, but far enough that he knew he would have enough time to react, even in the confined space, should Sebulba try something.


    When they burst out of the canyons onto the next section of the race, Harry found himself still in third, but he felt that they had likely put some space between them and the next racers, especially as Harry had heard at least two explosions echoing through the canyon before they exited, indicating the race was over for at least two competitors.


    Flying onto the next leg of the course Harry looked over the dunes, knowing that this section of the race relied as much on strategy and quick reflexes as it did on sheer dumb luck, as the dunes for the most part were stable and allowed the racers to pass over them safely, especially during the first lap, but as more racers went over the dunes the heat and winds would result in dunes collapsing without warning, either burying racers completely or creating sinkholes that the podracer would disappear into without being able to escape, only to be completely buried when another dune collapsed.


    As he had predicted, this early in the race, Harry managed to navigate his way through the section with ease, smiling to himself as he overtook Sebulba in this segment.


    As the race continued, Harry couldn''t help but be impressed with Gasgano''s ability to pilot his podracer, as he seemed to be able to react almost exactly as Harry attempted a move, no doubt aided by his extra limbs but to Harry it seemed there was slightly more that explained the extremely competent manner in which he handled his podracer.


    Due to this Harry found himself still found himself in second place, halfway through the second lap, still not having been able to find an opportunity to pass, for indeed Gasgano had flown an almost perfect race to that point.


    However, as Harry entered the dunes, which ran through Tusken Raider Territory, he almost froze up in the cockpit of his podracer as his senses were bombarded with multiple feelings of danger.


    The easiest to identify was the feeling of anger coming from behind him, without even turning around Harry was confident that it was Sebulba trying to make his sixth or seventh attempt to overtake the two frontrunners, as each previous attempt had failed so far and Harry had started to suspect that the Durg was getting frustrated and was likely soon to attempt something dangerous ¡­ ad likely illegal, even in this podrace which had few rules on what was allowed or not allowed in the first place.


    The second sensation was fainter and seemed to come from the top of the cliffs up ahead, that ran parallel to this section of the race. This feeling stumped Harry for almost a complete second as they approached the cliffs before he was a flash of light reflecting off a metal surface up there and realized there were likely Tusken Raiders which had moved into position up there and were preparing their weapons to shoot at the approaching podracers.


    Therealization had barely made its way out of his head before he watched several short beams of light head out towards Gasgano''s podracer, harmlessly embedding themselves into the sand several pod lengths behind the Xexto pilot and his craft.


    At that moment Harry felt the risk from Sebulba dramatically increase and choosing to trust his feelings Harry swung his podracer to the side out of caution and watched ¡­ as some sort of projectile missile flew by, exploding harmlessly at the base of the cliff.


    Using Harry''s evasion to his advantage the Durg shot up from behind Harry and managed to get parallel to him, as he looked over he saw the Durg pilot laughing, before he waved at Harry. He then grabbed hold of his steering controls with two hands and swerved his much larger podracer right at Harry''s, no doubt in an attempt to crush the smaller racer ¡­


    However, thanks to Harry''s enchantments before the race, his podracer was simply bumped aside due to the collision with the much larger podracer but remained completely undamaged.


    As Harry corrected the path of his racer he looked over to Sebulba and laughed as he waved at the stunned looking Durg, who was staring in shock at the still intact podracer.


    All of a sudden Harry felt a feeling of ¡­ danger and looked up just in time to move his head as a small piece of metal flew by the recently evacuated space and bounced harmlessly off his headrest. Harry looked in the direction that the piece of metal had come from and watched as Gasgano''s podracer, which had gained some significant ground during his and Sebulba''s interactions, and had almost left that segment of the course, wobble and a small black stream of smoke was emitted from the left engine before abruptly being cut off.


    Looking to his right he saw that Sebulba had recovered from his shock and was swinging towards Harry even more aggressively this time ¡­


    This collision was no more effective at destroying his engines and other than shaking every bone in his body the only thing that came out of the ''accidentally on purpose'' collision was that Harry''s podracer once more shot off course, this time by about twenty pod lengths.


    Harry watched as Sebulba once more stared in shock at the intact podracer that Harry managed to righten. Evidently deciding that the collisions were not doing anything Sebulba turned back to the track and used the separation he gained between them to enter the next section of the course, the geyser fields, slightly ahead of Harry, who calmly settled into position right behind the Durg, seeing on one of the gauges that he had used a little under a third of his fuel and as soon as they reached the open grounds in the next section, he was going to push his engines to the max and just swing wide.


    As they erupted from the geyser fields, Harry started to shift his podracer out of Sebulba''s shadow as he noticed that Gasgano was only just crossing the finish line completing his second lap, a sight which was both a relief to Harry, as it meant it was less ground to make up than he had thought there was between them, and confusing as he was pretty sure Gasgano should be farther ahead of where he currently was.


    Shrugging his shoulders at his apparent good fortune, Harry refocused back on the open ground in front of him pushing his engines to full, causing him to shoot forward with such acceleration his head bounced off the headrest.


    Turning his head slightly he laughed at the surprised expression on Sebulba''s face, clearly not expecting that maneuver, as Harry jumped very quickly past him, allowing him to complete the second lap, well ahead of Sebulba, for the final lap.


    As Harry exited the rocky canyon and looked out onto the section of the unstable dunes he felt an immediate twinge of warning from well ahead of him. This gave him a second of pause as he had not even entered the dunes yet. Although as he looked up and squinted his eyes against the light reflecting off the sand, he noticed that Gasgano''s pod was part way up a dune and his engine was once again emitting a line of black smoke, much thicker than it had been before, although it appeared he was barely moving along the dune.


    As Harry stared he saw that the reason for the lack of movement was that the entire dune seemed to be collapsing at the same speed the Xexto pilot was travelling on it and a sinkhole was forming below him.


    Harry watched for an additional second as he maneuvered his pdracer towards a different dune that looked and felt safe to him, confident that the Xexto pilot was effectively out of the race, however, even with the engine troubles the racer was not in much danger, escaping the quagmire he found himself in would just require him to use most of his remaining fuels to get out of the danger he was in.


    However, he had barely looked back ahead of before he felt the little fraction of a concerning sensation and heard a slight whining sound, which he remembered hearing the last time Sebulba had launched a projectile at him. Although judging by the muted sense of danger Harry was confident the attack was going to miss. And as Harry looked around and saw the incoming missile, he saw that he was correct and the Durg had likely fired the missile in desperation upon exiting the rocky canyons, before seeing that Harry was altering his course to the other dune.


    As such, he watched the missile pass several pod lengths behind him. Shifting to look out the side of his podracer he stared in horror seeing the missile impact with the top of the dune that Gasgano was already struggling to escape from, causing an immediate avalanche of sand ¡­ one that Harry was fairly confident the Xexto would have no way of escaping.


    Harry stared for one additional second before knowing he had to do something, with an exasperated sigh he slammed his weight onto the steering column and shot off the top of the dune and started heading towards Gasgano''s podracer. Taking a moment to look behind him as he descended the dune, he saw Sebulba start along the crest of the same dune he had been travelling across and even though he was far away, Harry was pretty sure he could see Sebulba laughing.


    Harry shook his anger at the Durg as he reached into his pants pocket and slowly withdrew his secret weapon that he had hesitantly brought with him this morning ¡­ just in case something was to happen in the race ¡­ something such as this.


    Slowly the fifteen inches of elder wood with a thestral tail hair core came into view. The first time Harry had held the wand in his hand outside of his room or the courtyard while he had been enchanting the podracer.


    Trusting his senses, without looking back, Harry aimed to a place just below the lip of the dune that Sebulba had not yet gotten to and firmly called out ¡­


    Bombarda Maxima!


    Harry smiled feeling the familiar sensation of magic go through his arm and exit out the wand.


    Even without looking, Harry felt oddly confident that his spell would connect with the dune, exactly where he pictured it would, and give something for Sebulba to deal with while he went off to save Gasgano.


    With that thought in mind making him smile, Harry leaned back over his controls as his podracer reached the bottom of the dune and leveled out on the flat ground, shooting towards the sinkhole that Gasgano''s podracer was heading towards with increased speed.


    Quickly deciding on a course of action, which he felt would be most likely to succeed, Harry shifted his steering column to head towards the other side of the sinkhole and collapsing dune, therefore approaching Gasgano''s podracer from behind.


    Harry held his breath as his podracer finished skirting the edge of the sinkhole which appeared to have grown and felt as his podracer rocked slightly as he started climbing up the inclined face of the rapidly collapsing dune.


    Harry almost let out a smile as he noticed he was getting close to the struggling podracer, when he saw a small explosion happen on the engine which had furiously been emitting smoke. Without that engine, all power was instantly transferred to the other engine which caused it to become overpowered and burnt out all the components, effectively shutting it down, but not before it spun the pod racer ninety degrees, resulting in it facing directly into the sinkhole, less than five pod lengths in front of it and getting closer with each passing moment.


    Knowing he had no time to implement his original plan, Harry once more raised his wand, holding it over the wind in the podracer and shouted, Depulso. He watched as the overpowered banishing charm flew true and collided with the side of the powerless podracer.


    For a second, the podracer seemed to absorb the spell instead of reacting, but then it roughly shot away from Harry, as if violently pushed, flying towards the level ground at the edge of the dune.


    Seeing it heading to safety, away from the danger of the sinkhole, Harry put the wand back in his pocket and leaned over the controls noticing that his approach had left him much closer to the edge of the sinkhole than he had planned or would have under other circumstance felt comfortable with.


    However, Harry smiled to himself as he pressed the thrust forward to full, feeling the podracer seem to hang in space for a moment before it shot up the face of the collapsing dune, overjoyed he had been able to take off the additional weight as judging by the speed at which the sand was shifting, he was pretty sure a heavier podracer wouldn''t have been able to escape the collapsing done and had he tried it he would be buried in the sinkhole at that moment.


    As Harry finished summiting the now mostly collapsed dune, escaping the cascading sand which had tried to trap both Gasgano and himself, Harry flew by Gasgano who was sitting on the front of his podracer staring intently at Harry as he flew by.


    But Harry was out of the dunes before he could do more than acknowledge the Xexto pilot with a slight wave, although he did notice that he couldn''t see Sebulba''s pod still in that section and he doubted he was lucky enough that Sebulba currently found himself half buried in the dune. As such he leaned forward over his controls once more and pushed them again to maximum as he began weaving his way through the remaining obstacles, pushing to catch up to the Durg who had gained ground while Harry had diverted his pod to help the Xexto.


    To his relief he caught site of the Durg finishing the next section as he arrived and by the time they finished the second last section of the race, the geyser fields, Harry had pulled within a pods length. A distance which quickly faded to nothing as he pulled even with Sebulba as they started the last section of the race, the flat desert plains which led to the finish line, just in sight, far in the distance.


    As Harry felt his pod starting to inch past the Durg, he looked up in response to a twinge of unease from the direction of Sebulba''s podracer and saw an incredibly angry Durg swinging his podracer towards Harry''s.


    Harry braced himself for the collision, simply waving and smiling to the Durg as his ship once again survived the impact from the much heavier podracer, watching as the angry Durg separated himself once again and prepared to take another run at Harry''s podracer.


    Seeing the look in Sebulba''s eyes Harry looked back down at his instrument panel, smiling when he saw he still had just under a third of his total fuel reserve, including almost the entire emergency thrust tank.


    Looking back to Sebulba he gave him a mock salute and waved at the Durg, which had its desired effect as it seemed to infuriate him even more, and resulted in him swinging his podracer once more recklessly towards Harry''s.


    Seeing that Sebulba had fully committed he quickly pushed the throttle to maximum and triggered the button for the emergency thrusters, smiling as time seemed to slow down as he was pushed back into his seat.


    Glancing to the side, Harry watched as the front end of Sebulba''s podracer crept closer and closer ¡­ but with each passing moment Harry''s podracer seemed to pull further and further forward out of danger. However as he watched his podracer incher out of danger he froze, watching the front end of Sebulba''s podracer as it approached his.


    Oh no ¡­ did I miscalculate ¡­


    The thought ran through Harry''s mind, knowing that a collision with the back end of his podracer would almost certainly end the race for him as while it wouldn''t damage the pod it would at least spin him around, but more likely send him spinning out of control.


    As such, even though he knew it was likely pointless, Harry leaned forward to try to reduce the drag his body was creating and pushed the already maxed out thruster controls, holding his breath ¡­ and ¡­


    The smallest of jolts could be felt through the craft as Sebulba''s podracer glanced the back end of his racer.


    Harry smiled to himself as he easily corrected the slight disruption of his path, before glancing back, easily spotting Sebulba''s podracer spinning wildly out of control before starting to roll uncontrollably off to the side of the course.


    Looking back to the front of his podracer, Harry had just enough time to notice the stands as he flew across the finish line, holding up one hand in celebration as he cut power to the engines.


    It was quiet for several seconds before the entire stadium erupted into cheering, the voice of the announcer barely reaching above the noise.


    "And there you have it, fans! You''ve witnessed history, literally the upset of the century. You''ve just watched the youngest racer to ever win the Boonta Eve Classic ¡­ any major podracing event ¡­ and it was a human no less ¡­ I''m just beside myself ¡­ This year''s Boonta Eve Classic Champion ¡­ Anakin Skywalker!"


    Kind Regards,


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 Gasganos Offer

    Harry barely had enough time to complete a proper shut down of the Radon Ulzer engines, skillfully diverting all energy away from the turbines to prevent overshooting the space in front of the viewing platforms. With a sense of relief, he watched as the excess energy dissipated safely, ensuring the podracer''s stability. However, his moment of accomplishment was quickly overshadowed by the deafening roar of excited fans swarming around him and his now motionless podracer.


    Feeling a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration, Harry remained seated in the pod for several moments, taking in the chaotic scene unfolding around him. Amidst the chaos of cheers and applause, he caught sight of Jar-Jar Binks, whose boundless enthusiasm propelled him towards the podracer with reckless abandon. In his enthusiasm to congratulate the new race victor, Jar-Jar inadvertently sent three bystanders tumbling off the opposite side of the podracer.


    Despite his initial worry over the chaos, Harry couldn''t suppress a smile as he spotted familiar faces in the crowd. His mother, Kitster, and Padm¨¦ stood nearby, their expressions a mix of pride and excitement. Encouraged by their presence, Harry finally decided to step out of the pod, only to be immediately engulfed in a tidal wave of their hugs and embraces.


    For a moment, Harry reveled in the warmth of their affection, cherishing the rare opportunity to be surrounded by loved ones in the midst of such jubilation. However, his moment of tranquility was short-lived. Much to his dismay and the amusement of Kitster and Padm¨¦, Harry suddenly found himself lifted off his feet by the enthusiastic crowd, before being hoisted onto their shoulders and upraised arms as they repeatedly tossed him into the air and chanted his name.


    After several minutes of that, the jubilant crowd finally lowered Harry to the ground, dispersing from the race track to attend to their own tasks before the setting of the twin suns. Harry found himself surrounded by a smaller group consisting of Jar-Jar, Padm¨¦, Kitster, and his mother, who beamed with pride at his achievement.


    Returning her smiles, Harry''s expression suddenly shifted to one of confusion as he scanned the area. He turned to his mother, seeking answers amidst the bustling atmosphere.


    "Where''s Qui-Gon and the droids, Mom?" he inquired, his brow furrowing in puzzlement. "Actually, for that matter ... where''s Watto? He''s usually among the first to find me after a race. I thought he''d be down here almost immediately."


    His mother''s smile remained intact as she glanced towards the viewing platforms before returning her gaze to Harry. "Qui-Gon went to see Watto about collecting ¡­ well ¡­ his winnings," she explained, her tone tinged with amusement. "And as for Watto ... well, it seems he had placed heavy bets against you. I imagine he''s not in the best of moods right now."


    Harry worriedly looked at the ground, his apprehension deepening as he thought about the potential fallout from Watto''s loss. He knew from past experience that the Toydarian could be particularly irritable when things didn''t go his way, often making life unpleasant for both him and his mother until he found a new opportunity to turn the tide in his favor. However, when he eventually glanced up, he was greeted by a smile so radiant on his mother''s face that it almost eclipsed her features entirely.


    Bewildered by her cheerfulness, Harry raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Mom?"


    She shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I won''t spoil the surprise. But Qui-Gon has some news for you when he joins us ¡­ although it might ¡­"


    As if on cue, Qui-Gon materialized beside them, his expression warm and inviting. Harry''s mother wasted no time in turning her attention to the Jedi, though a hint of concern flickered across her features. "How ... how did it go? Were you able to ... where''s Watto? Is everything alright ..." Her words trailed off anxiously.


    In response, Qui-Gon offered a reassuring smile and a nod. "All is well. As the saying goes, when one gambles, they eventually face their losses. Today happened to be Watto''s turn. Fortunately, he saw reason, and there was no need to involve the Hutts. He will honor our agreement."


    Qui-Gon paused, his gaze shifting between Harry and his mother before settling back on her with a meaningful look on his face. "Have you informed young Anakin yet?"


    His mother''s smile remained gentle yet enigmatic as she turned her attention to Harry, her gaze softening with maternal affection. "I wasn''t sure if you had wanted to tell him," she responded to Qui-Gon without shifting her gaze away from her son.


    Caught off guard by the cryptic exchange, Harry felt a wave of confusion wash over him. "Tell me what?" he interjected, trying to make sense of the conversation unfolding before him.


    Ignoring Harry''s question, Qui-Gon looked to his mother, his tone thoughtful. "Perhaps ¡­ this is a conversation for you to have with your son. It will be a significant change in his life, and I wouldn''t want to overstep."


    His mother met his gaze with understanding, nodding in agreement. "Thank you for that," she acknowledged before turning his attention to Harry and smiling. "Although ¡­" she paused, looking past the walls of the arena, "¡­ perhaps it would be best to discuss this matter in the privacy of our own home rather than out here."


    Harry looked frantically back and forth between the two of them, noticing Qui-Gon look back towards Harry, opening his mouth before closing his mouth and nodding. "That is fair. You are his mother after all. Although, I do wonder ¡­"


    Harry''s confusion deepened as he observed the exchange between his mother and the Jedi, a sense of apprehension creeping into his thoughts. Before he could voice his concerns, Qui-Gon''s words were interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a Gamorrean worker, accompanied by an antigrav sled bearing the hyperdrive parts that had been the subject of Qui-Gon''s wager with Watto.


    Rather than completing his sentence, Qui-Gon shook his head and abruptly broke away to talk with the alien, leaving Harry to stand awkwardly between his mother and Padm¨¦. Harry''s confusion only deepened as he watched Padm¨¦ exchange furtive glances with his mother without talking.


    "Tell me what?" Harry repeated, his tone tinged with frustration as he directed his gaze towards his mother, seeking answers.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Padm¨¦''s guilty glance towards his mother before she quickly averted her eyes, feigning interest in Harry''s podracer.


    Unfortunately, his mother remained tight-lipped, her smile masking whatever secrets she held, contenting herself with repeating she would tell him later once they were home. Although Harry couldn''t help but notice the slight wistfulness in her eyes, a subtle hint of something left unspoken.


    After several further futile attempts to extract information from his mother, Harry resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn''t uncover the truth until they reached the privacy of their home. With little else to do, he engaged in conversation with Kitster and Jar-Jar about the race, their enthusiasm contagious as they eagerly shared their thoughts and experiences on his performance.


    Eventually, Qui-Gon rejoined them, breaking the flow of conversation. "Padm¨¦, Jar-Jar, it''s time to say your goodbyes. The arrangements for the parts are settled," he informed them briskly. "We need to get those back to the ship. The sooner we install them and depart this planet for Coruscant ¡­ the better I''ll feel. I worry that lingering on this planet any longer than necessary would be ¡­ unwise."


    Turning back to face Harry, Qui-Gon offered a warm smile, gratitude evident in his expression. "Thanks again for what you did ... for what you volunteered to do," he began, his words laced with sincerity. "It was more than most would have been willing to do for strangers. For that, you have our deepest appreciation. I''ll ... well I''ll see you later. May the Force be with you."


    With that, Qui-Gon pivoted away, leaving Harry to grapple with a sense of confusion that lingered behind, wondering what the man had meant. He kept an eye on Qui-Gon, even as Padm¨¦ and Jar-Jar exchanged their farewells with him and his mother before readying themselves to leave.


    As the goodbyes drew to a close, Harry found himself rooted to the spot, a nagging unease settling in the pit of his stomach. Suddenly, he recognized the familiar sensation that washed over him, as the same unpleasant ¡­ almost malevolent sensation that he had experienced earlier. His eyes darted around frantically until they landed on a sight that sent a shiver down his spine: the same probe droid he had seen earlier, lurking at the edge of the area, concealed within the shadows.


    Instinctively, Harry''s instincts screamed danger, compelling him to act. Ignoring the perplexed looks of his mother and Kitster, he sprinted towards Qui-Gon, who was already leading the group out of the arena.


    "Qui-Gon!" he called out, surprising the Jedi with the urgency in his voice.


    The Jedi turned, his gaze meeting Harry''s with mild surprise. "Hello again. What is it?" he inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity.


    "I''m ... not sure ¡­," Harry began tentatively, relieved to see that his words didn''t immediately elicit a look of displeasure from the Jedi. "But I had this feeling ... and, well, it feels ... I''m not sure. I''m not entirely sure how to describe it, but sometimes I get a sense from certain people when they''re about to do something ..." He trailed off, his uncertainty evident as he shrugged his shoulders, oblivious to the raised eyebrows of Qui-Gon. "And, well ... there''s a probe droid at the edge of the arena that I have a feeling ... means you harm."


    Harry shook his head, a flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks as he looked down at the ground. "I know how this sounds ... but I''ve never felt emotions from a droid before, let alone feelings this strong. I just felt I should mention it ..." His voice trailed off, and he hesitantly looked back up at the Jedi, freezing as he saw Qui-Gon studying him intently before slowly turning his gaze in the direction Harry had indicated the probe droid.


    After casting his gaze over the area, seemingly unfazed by the presence of the probe droid that remained fixated on Qui-Gon''s party, the Jedi turned back to Harry, his expression thoughtful. "That is most remarkable ... even when focusing on the droid, I barely feel anything ... and yet you managed to sense the disturbance without its focus directed at you ... truly remarkable. We shall have much to discuss," he mused, his tone carrying a note of genuine admiration. "However, I realize now that I was correct and we have lingered here for too long ... we must deliver these parts to the ship before whoever controls that droid tracks us down. Thank you for the warning, Anakin ¡­ I will see you soon."


    With a decisive gesture, Qui-Gon motioned for Jar-Jar, R2-D2, and Padm¨¦ to lead the antigrav sled out of the arena, ensuring the safety of the crucial hyperdrive components they had acquired. As they began to make their way towards the exit, Qui-Gon paused, turning back to Harry with a reassuring expression.


    "Do not be afraid of what you sense, Anakin," he counseled, his words imbued with wisdom and encouragement. "Trust your feelings. They will guide you true."


    With those words of guidance, Qui-Gon rejoined his party, their purposeful strides carrying them swiftly out of the arena. As they departed, Harry watched with curiosity as the probe droid abruptly veered away in the opposite direction, its hasty departure confirming that it had indeed been focused on their group.


    As Qui-Gon and the others gradually vanished beyond the gate, heading in the direction of the edge of the settlement. Harry turned his attention back to his mother, Kitster, and C-3PO, rejoining them, his mind buzzing with unanswered questions about the cryptic conversation he had witnessed. Before he could even utter a word to his mother, however, a voice called out to him, disrupting his thoughts.


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    Swiveling around, Harry spotted Gasgano, the Xexto podracer, making his way towards him.


    "Tsit, vweter tnoo!" Gasgano greeted him in his native tongue.


    Harry''s apologetically shook his head signaling his inability to understand. "Sorry," he explained, "I know Huttese and a few other alien languages, but Xextish isn''t one of them. I only know a few words."


    Gasgano nodded understandingly and switched to Galactic Basic, his words now comprehensible to Harry. "Hello, Anakin Skywalker," he began, gratitude evident in his tone. "I wanted to thank you for what you did for me during the race."


    Harry glanced around cautiously, ensuring no one was eavesdropping before turning his attention back to Gasgano, a puzzled expression on his face. "I''m not sure what you mean," he replied, though even to his own ears, his response sounded unconvincing.


    The Xexto racer regarded Harry with a quizzical expression, his multifaceted eyes narrowing in contemplation as he tilted his head. "So, you have no idea what happened to my pod ... how I suddenly went from facing a certain death at the base of the collapsing dune in a dead pod to being miraculously pushed out of harm''s way to safety?"


    Harry managed to mostly suppress his smile, maintaining an air of nonchalance as he shrugged once more. "No clue," he replied casually. "But I''m honestly relieved that you''re okay. I''ve grown ¡­ tired of Sebulba''s reckless racing tactics. It seems that in every race he''s involved in, there are ¡­ ''accidents'' that result in competitors suffering severe, often career-ending injuries. I''m certainly not looking forward to our next race together ... especially after the way I had won today. Although I''m sure Watto will love the outcome?"


    Gasgano''s expression shifted to one of surprise as he processed Harry''s words. "Sorry? Watto will love it?"


    Harry nodded slowly, "Aye. Watto, the Toydarian who owns both my mother and me, takes pleasure in making me race ¡­ almost as much as he enjoys placing bets on me racing. I have no doubt that the betting frenzy surrounding the next rematch between Sebulba and me, will be utterly absurd."


    As Harry observed Gasgano''s puzzled expression, he froze unsure what brought on the confusion.


    "I think there might be some misunderstanding here," Gasgano began, his tone thoughtful. "After the race, I inquired about you. I wanted to express my gratitude for helping me ¡­ oh right ... well, not helping me." He chuckled lightly, in response to the look on Harry''s face. "Eventually, some of the arena''s pit droids directed me to Watto, informing me that you were one of his slaves."


    "I must admit, I was taken aback when I first heard that. While you certainly aren''t the first slave I''ve raced against, you''re by far the youngest, and ... well, you seem ... I''m not sure the word in Galactic Basic, but most content, perhaps ¡­ normal ¡­ happy?" He shrugged, hoping Harry would understand the sentiment behind his words. "You appeared to genuinely enjoy racing, which is something I haven''t observed in other slaves who race."


    "Anyways, when I heard that you were a slave, I decided I''d approach Watto with an offer ¡­ well ¡­ I''m not sure if you''ve heard of me ¡­" he paused, looking at Harry.


    But before Harry could continue, Kitster jumped in, his voice brimming with excitment. "Heard of you? Of course he has! Every racer worth their weight, and even those who aren''t, knows of your career and your racing team."


    Gasgano''s smile was warm as he nodded at the young boy before turning his attention to Harry, his demeanor becoming serious again.


    "Well, I suppose that simplifies things," Gasgano began, his tone tinged with a hint of humility. "Perhaps your friend exaggerates my reputation a bit, but I have indeed enjoyed a lengthy and relatively successful career in racing. Despite my fair share of close calls, including today''s harrowing experience, I''ve managed to emerge from each race with all my limbs intact." He chuckled wryly.


    Leaning in slightly, Gasgano''s expression grew earnest. "It hasn''t been officially announced yet, but this year marks the end of my career on the circuit. Due to this impending retirement, and in light of what you did ¡­ or what I believe you did ¡­ for me out on the course, I had wanted to express my gratitude by offering to have you take my position on the team, allowing you to race under my banner."


    Harry''s eyebrows shot up into his hairline in astonishment, mirroring the shocked reaction of his friend Kitster, who dropped the hydrospanner he''d been holding, his expletive echoing loudly in the sudden silence. Harry glanced towards his mother, who wore a look of concern, her eyes fixed on the Xexto racer, who seemed unaware of the scrutiny he was being subjected to.


    Gasgano''s gaze shifted from Kitster back to Harry, his expression earnest as he continued his story. "So, once I had discovered that you were Watto''s property, I approached the Toydarian with the intention of purchasing your freedom. My aim was to offer you the opportunity to race on my team and eventually to replace ..."


    Harry found himself momentarily stunned, missing the rest of what Gasgano was saying, his attention fully captured by Gasgano''s previous words. He glanced towards Kitster, whose expression mirrored his own mixture of surprise and happiness. However, when Harry turned to look at his mother, he was taken aback by her expression, a look of worry and fear etched across her features.


    Before he could decipher his mother''s expression, Gasgano''s next words abruptly shattered the moment of hopeful anticipation. "... Unfortunately, when I finally located Watto ... I was unable to buy your freedom."


    And in that instant, the fleeting happiness that had swelled within Harry following his podrace victory and when Gasgano had mentioned purchasing his freedom crumbled into nothingness. A heavy sense of depression washed over him, filling his being with a profound sadness. He shook his head, his heart heavy with the realization that Watto''s selfishness had dashed any hope of freedom.


    ''Of course,'' Harry thought bitterly, his mind swirling with resentment as he shook his head. ''Watto wouldn''t want to sell me, especially not after that race. No doubt he''s already looking forward to the next race, looking forward to the prospect of winning from the races. Even with winning the Boonta Eve Classic, I''m sure I''ll still just be a betting underdog for several races. He''ll milk every opportunity to line his pockets ¡­ why would he consider letting me go.''


    As Harry''s gaze fell to the ground, his sorrow gradually gave way to a simmering anger that ignited within him like a smoldering ember. It began as a flicker deep within his chest, fueled by the unfairness of his situation. While it had started as a small kernel of anger within him he felt it slowly expanding throughout his body.


    To his surprise, as the sensation moved into his arms, Harry felt the heat of his anger transform into ¡­ something else. The heat began to change into a rushing feeling of ¡­ energy, almost as if he had electricity running down his arms, begging to be unleashed.


    The intensity of the sensation coursing through Harry''s arms was so intense that he found himself momentarily fascinated, his gaze fixated on his fingertips as if expecting to see sparks flying. However, his reverie was abruptly interrupted as he noticed Gasgano''s expectant stare on him.


    Shaking himself out of his trance, Harry took a deep, steadying breath, willing himself to focus on the present and not his anger. "Sorry," he murmured bitterly, his voice slightly distant. "I got lost in my thoughts."


    To his surprise, Gasgano chuckled warmly, his expression sympathetic. "No worries. I can only imagine how distracting it must be to realize you''re already free, no longer belonging to Watto. I know that I''d certainly be ..."


    Harry''s heart skipped a beat, his attention snapping back to Gasgano with sudden urgency. "Wait... what do you mean ... I''m free?" he interjected; his voice tinged with disbelief. "I thought you said Watto wouldn''t sell me?"


    The Xexto racer regarded Harry with surprise before casting a glance towards his mother. "Oh ... you weren''t aware?" he replied, his tone tinged with surprise. "I assumed you would have been the first to know. Watto wasn''t exactly very keen to talk about it ... seems he lost a considerable sum of money betting against you ¡­ and apparently, losing you was a bitter pill to swallow on top of that." He paused, his expression somber. "But what I meant was that I was unable to buy your freedom ... because Watto had already made a bet regarding it ... a bet which he lost. It sounded like he made multiple wagers with a man, regarding engine parts and your freedom ¡­"


    Harry''s gaze flickered towards his mother, his expression one of utter surprise as he silently mouthed, "Qui-Gon Jinn ¡­ the Jedi?" Her guarded nod confirmed his suspicions before she looked away, leaving him reeling with a mix of astonishment and uncertainty.


    "Mom, what does this mean?" Harry''s voice trembled with apprehension as he sought clarification. "He owns me now?"


    His mother''s guilt-ridden gaze had been fixed on the ground, but at his question, she looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with reassurance. "Not at all, Ani," she replied, her voice laced with relief. "When Qui-Gon mentioned the wager as we came down to see you, he specifically stated that he had wagered for your freedom, not your servitude. You are free, Ani," she affirmed, a gentle smile gracing her lips.


    Unsure how to act, Harry felt his breath catch in his throat, his mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of what his mother had just revealed. The weight of his newfound freedom pressed upon him, leaving him momentarily paralyzed with disbelief.


    Turning his gaze towards his mother, Kitster, and Gasgano, Harry found himself at a loss for words, his shock palpable in the stunned silence that enveloped him.


    Finally gathering his thoughts, Harry turned back to his mother, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Free ... seriously ... we''re free ... Mom, I can''t believe it," he murmured, his words filled with a mixture of incredulity and awe. "This is ... seriously, I can''t believe it ... do you think he''d let us ..."


    But his hopeful question died on his tongue as he caught the shift in his mother''s expression, the happiness fading from her face. "Mom ... what is it?" Harry pressed, his heart sinking as he sensed her discomfort.


    With a hesitant glance towards the edge of the arena, his mother avoided meeting his gaze before reluctantly turning back to him. "The wager wasn''t for us, Ani," she confessed, her voice strained with unease. "Watto would never have agreed to that ... it was only for you ..."


    Harry''s shoulders slumped visibly, the weight of dashed hope pressing down upon him once more. The glimmer of excitement he had felt at the news of his own freedom fizzled out, replaced by a heavy sense of resignation. He paused for a fleeting moment, thinking on all the credits he''d wagered on himself during the race, but discarded the idea as he had little hope that even with the good odds, it wouldn''t be enough to convince Watto into releasing his mother ¡­ especially to him, now that he was free.


    Turning back towards his mother, Harry opened his mouth to voice his questions about their uncertain future, but before he could utter a single word, Gasgano cleared his throat, effectively capturing their attention.


    "Well, that may have been the case," Gasgano interjected, his voice cutting through the somber atmosphere, "but as I mentioned earlier, when I approached Watto, he was in a rather foul mood. Losing a significant amount by betting against his own racer, only to then also lose that racer himself, had left him ¡­ in a rather unpleasant state. So, when I discovered that I couldn''t secure your freedom as a means of repaying you ¡­ well ¡­ I decided to express my appreciation in a different manner ¡­ I thought I could still show my appreciation by purchasing your mother''s freedom ¡­"


    Before Gasgano could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the sudden impact of a small figure colliding with his midsection. Gasgano''s eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the familiar form of a nine-year-old boy enveloping him in an enthusiastic embrace, having managed to close the distance between them in a remarkably small amount of time.


    "Thank you ... thank you ... thank you ..." the boy exclaimed repeatedly, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.


    After releasing Gasgano from the tight embrace, the boy turned towards his mother, only to find her on her knees, her eyes locked on the Xexto racer in disbelief. With a soft smile, Harry closed the distance between them, hurrying to envelop her in a warm embrace.


    Witnessing the raw emotion of the moment, Gasgano nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm ... perhaps I can give you both some time to consider your futures, now that you are both free that is," he suggested, his voice gentle. Pausing for a moment, he looked between the pair before continuing. "Here is my communicator frequency. Or else, I''ll be lingering around the settlement for a few days, until we depart for Manaan for the next race."


    Harry reluctantly released his embrace with his mother, turning towards Gasgano and nodding in acknowledgment. He accepted the small slip of paper offered to him, recognizing the numbers as a communicator frequency scrawled upon it. With a sense of newfound hope and possibility, Harry tucked the slip safely into his pocket, his mind buzzing with the promise of opportunity.


    "However, do not feel pressured by my offer ¡­ or my actions," Gasgano continued, his tone sincere and understanding. "If you haven''t made a decision by the time we depart, or if you choose a different path altogether, there will be no hard feelings from me. Your mother''s freedom is meant as repayment for your actions, not a bargaining chip. And if you do opt for a different course of action, know that my offer stands indefinitely. You can reach out to me at any time."


    He paused, his gaze lingering on Harry with a mix of gratitude and respect. "I honestly, would be honored to have you race for my team. And once again ... thank you for saving my life. I understand that you deny it, but I know what I saw and experienced. Truth be told, I''ve witnessed stranger things, so I''m not concerned. However, I respect your decision to keep it a secret. I imagine it will reduce the attention others give you, but it will also allow others to underestimate you. And that, Anakin, is a valuable asset never to be underestimated. Good luck."


    With those parting words, Gasgano turned away, making his way towards the podracer pit.


    As the Xexto racer took only a few steps away from the group, Harry felt the weight of Kitster''s exuberance as the boy practically pounced on him in his excitement.


    "Ani ... you did it!" Kitster exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "You''re free! You have a chance to join Gasgano''s racing team! Everyone will know your name! You can truly become the best pilot in the universe, just like you always said you would! Okay ... I''m going to round up the gang. They''ll never believe me, but they''re going to be so excited!"


    Before Harry could even think of a response, Kitster darted off, his figure disappearing around a corner in a blur of motion. Left behind, Harry and his mother shared a moment of soft laughter, their spirits buoyed by Kitster''s infectious excitement.


    Kind Regards,


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 The Sith in the Sand

    Harry Potter sat across the small table in their kitchen, the scorching Tatooine sun coming in the windows, the echoes of the Boonta Eve Classic still reverberating in his mind. The roars of the engines, the smell of burning fuel in the air, the cheers from the crowd after he crossed the finish line ¡­ But amidst all those memories bouncing around in his mind he could not get the words from Gasgano and his mother out of his mind ¡­ him and his mother were both free and he was invited to join Gasgano''s podracing team.


    Shmi Skywalker sat across from him silently observing him, her warm gaze meeting his troubled eyes, no doubt sensing the thoughts travelling through his mind.


    Even though the entire way back to their dwelling, Harry had been pestering him mother non-stop to explain how or why he was free, even though he strongly suspected it had something to do with Qui-Gon Jinn ¨C based off what Gasgano and Qui-Gon himself had themselves said, his mother had refused to say anything the entire trip, sitting Harry across from her as soon as they got into the door.


    Finally, his mother broke the silence as she took a very deep breath and nodded to him. "Ani, you did wonderfully out there," she said, her voice soft, but firm. "You showed courage and skill, well beyond your years ¡­ it was beyond anything I had ever seen. It was ¡­ incredible ¡­"


    Harry nodded excitedly, his thoughts drifting back to the offer extended to him by Gasgano ¨C a chance to escape the planet ¡­ his dream come true.


    His mother reached her hand out, clasping his hand in hers, a gesture of comfort, bringing him back to the present.


    Her smile had become more faint, looking a little strained as she looked at him.


    "Ani, there''s something I need to tell you," She began, her voice tinged with both apprehension and pride. "It was Qui-Gon who feed you from slavery. He had tried to wager for both of our freedom, but a game of Chance freed you."


    His eyes widened slightly at the circumstances, but he nodded hearing that his suspicion had been confirmed. "Qui-Gon?" he echoed slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But why would he do that?"


    His mother smiled softly, eyes reflecting her maternal love and pride, "Well first of all, I''m sure part of it was out of gratitude for your selfless desire to help him and his group ¡­ but more importantly ¡­ I believe it is because he saw something special in you, Ani. Something extraordinary." She paused, her expression growing solemn. "We had a conversation last night, Qui-Gon and I."


    Harry looked up in surprise, not having been aware of that.


    "He believes that the abilities of yours are related to the Force ¡­ which is something apparently related to the strength of a Jedi ¡­ or something like that. When he tested your blood, he found something that left him in shock. And based on what he said when we were watching you race, I think that''s why he''s going to come back after he gets the new hyperdrive to his ship ¡­ I think he''s going to offer to take you to Coruscant with them ¡­ to train you to become a Jedi."


    Harry''s jaw dropped open, certainly not expecting to hear that, as his heart leaped with a mixture of excitement and trepidation at the possibility of becoming a Jedi. Even out there, he overheard rumors of everything the Jedi had done.


    However, he froze after a second staring at his mother, remembering the other offer he had just received that day, realizing that he now had a choice to make.


    On one hand, there was the allure of podracing, which Harry had quickly found to be even more exhilarating that Quidditch. A world of speed and excitement where he could carve out a name for himself. Joining Gasgano''s team would mean freedom, independence, and the chance to pursue the dreams of becoming a pilot, as he raced among the stars.


    And then there was now the opportunity to become a Jedi, even in the short time since Harry had awoken on this world, he had heard tales of the Jedi and how they were a beacon of light in the galaxy. And the fact that Qui-Gon seemed to sense something within him and wanted to train him as a Jedi ¡­ the prospect of becoming a guardian of peace and justice certainly held a significant draw for him as well.


    And yet ¡­ even worse than the weight of having to chose between those two options, was the nagging guilt that tugged at his conscience, a guilt at the thought that choosing either of those options would mean leaving his mother behind. The stories of both the Hutts ''convincing'' free people to become slaves and the ever present danger of the sand people weighing on his mind.


    Harry shook his head, his heart torn between the two paths, each tempting in their own ways, and the situation with his mother. He turned to her, his voice tinged with uncertainty.


    "Mom ¡­ what should I do? Should I join Gasgano''s team and become a podracer or become a Jedi? And what ¡­ what about you?


    His mother put a comforting hand on his shoulder, her expression filled with compassion. "Ani, it''s not a child''s job to worry about a parent. Trust me that is my job. But honestly, you''d be foolish to ignore the options in front of you because you were worried about me ¡­ I will be alright. But as for your choices ¡­ I think both paths certainly have danger, but I''m sure they will both offer you a chance to be great ¡­ to become more than we ever dreamed of. As a podracer, certainly if today was any indication, you could no doubt achieve fame and fortune ¡­ but podracing is dangerous and the risks are high ¡­ honestly, I would be more than a little worried."


    Harry nodded, understanding her apprehension. Podracing definitely was not without its risks, as he had already seen on more than one occasion over his short ''career'' ¡­ but he had to admit the allure of the speed and freedom while racing was intoxicating.


    "What about the Jedi, Mom?" he asked.


    Her eyes softened as she smiled. "The Jedi ¡­ they are a source of goodness in the galaxy. Even out here the people know the Jedi are revered for their selflessness and compassion. They dedicate their lives to serving others, to fight against injustice. If you were to become a Jedi you could help people, make a difference in their lives ¡­ you would have the power to bring hope to those who need it the most."


    Harry nodded slowly mulling over his mother''s words, aware of what she would recommend just based on how she laid out the two options, although it was a daunting idea.


    "But what if I''m not strong enough" His voice trembled with uncertainty. "What if I fail as a Jedi ¡­ what if I''m not strong enough to do all that?"


    His mother''s gaze hardened for a second before it softened with compassion as she reached over and cupped his face in her hands. "Ani, strength isn''t about never failing. It is about having the courage to follow your heart, to face your fears, and to never give up, no matter the odds ¡­ and remember, even if you were to decide to become a Jedi and it didn''t work out, you could always choose another path. Sounded like according to Gasgano, podracing would always be open to you. Your destiny is yours to shape."


    Harry felt a sense of clarity wash over hi, his doubts fading and giving wat to a newfound resolve as he found himself unconsciously standing up and running to the other side of the table and embracing his mother in a tight hug.


    "Thank you, Mom," he said his voice filled with gratitude. "I think I know what I have to do now ¡­ I think I know which one I will choose."


    Harry felt his mother squeeze him close before slowly releasing him, a smile on her face, "Whatever you decide, Ani, know that I will always be here for you, supporting you every step of the way."


    - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP - SW - HP -


    Shortly after Harry finished packing the few meager things he owned into a small bag, which he dropped by the front door, he ran back to his room to do one last check through the mokeskin pouch, making sure everything was still there.


    He had just finished that when he heard his mother calling to him from the kitchen, letting him know that she spotted a familiar figure approaching their dwelling. Anakin''s heart skipped a beat as he quickly attached the mokeskin pouch to his waist and ran out of the room, arriving at the front door, just as the Jedi announced his arrival with a firm knock on the door.


    Harry immediately opened the door, a large smile covering his entire face. "Qui-Gon!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "My mom told me everything. I''m ready to go."


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    Qui-Gon''s eyes twinkled with pride as he clasped Harry''s shoulder in a firm grip. "I''m very pleased to hear that, young Anakin," he replied, his voice warm with approval. "On my way here, I had heard a rumor that a podracer had invited you to join his team and I was worried that I might have just lost a most promising student to a life of fame and fortune."


    Harry laughed as he led Qui-Gon into the house, "Well I did get an offer ¡­ that is definitely true, but after chatting with my mom ¡­ she helped me make up my mind."


    Looking up and across the room, he watched as his mother entered the front room at that exact moment a proud smile on her face. "You would have got there by yourself ¡­ I just helped you realize it quicker."


    Qui-Gon nodded towards her. "Well then I must thank you for that." He paused and looked towards Harry. "Do you need to say goodbye to your friends? There are some things I need to discuss with your mother before we leave."


    Harry''s brow furrowed in confusion as Qui-Gon tried to motion for him to leave the room, "Why is that? Is everything alright?" he asked, his tone tinged with concern.


    Qui-Gon hesitated for a moment, his gaze filled with a mixture of sadness and regret. "Anakin ¡­ I had heard that a podracer paid for your mothers freedom and for that I am incredibly happy ¡­" he paused turning to his mother, " ¡­ I had tried to do what I could to free both of you from Watto but in the end he was only willing to bet the freedom of one of you on the game of Chance, there was nothing else I could have done."


    His mother nodded understandingly to the Jedi who smiled before looking back to Harry. "But while I truly am incredibly happy that she is no longer a slave ¡­ as it is a truly horrible practice ¡­ I worry that because she is now free, she might wish to come with us ¡­ but that can''t happen."


    Harry stared in shock, wanting to smack himself in the head as that thought hadn''t even occurred to him even though it would remove the remaining bit of concern from his mind.


    "But why not?" He asked quickly, refusing to leave the room, especially seeing that her expression fell slightly at hearing Qui-Gon''s words. "Surely there is room on your ship for one more and she''d be all alone on this planet."


    Qui-Gon shook his head sadly at Harry. "I understand your concern, but that is not the Jedi way, we don''t form personal attachments ¡­ they are a risk. They can have a negative impact on Jedi and lead one towards the dark side."


    Harry scoffed. "That is ridiculous and even I can see that. How is compassion for others a bad thing. And wouldn''t it be worse to leave her here. Tatooine is a dangerous planet. While I doubt Watto would hold a grudge or do anything to her, I have no doubt Sebulba will be incredibly angry for some time and after finding that I''m gone ¡­ he might take his anger out on my mother. Anger that is from a race I flew in to help you. And beyond him ¡­ I worry about the people here. Tatooine isn''t exactly full of the nicest people ¡­ and that doesn''t even begin to cover the risks from the Sand People. They are always trying to kidnap people if they are outside the settlements." He paused to take a breath before refocusing back on Qui-Gon. "What if something were to happen to her while I was away and I couldn''t do anything ¡­ surely that would ''negatively affect'' me as well."


    Qui-Gon paused staring at Harry, "It''s not as if Coruscant is without danger. And she certainly would not be able to live in the Jedi Temple, where would she live? And what if you don''t become a Jedi, what then?"


    Harry stared resolutely at the Jedi, his expression hardening, "If there is one thing that I''m certain of, it''s that there is danger everywhere, but at least if I am nearby, I at least have a chance to help. As for living ¡­" he paused and smiled to the two adults, " ¡­ well ¡­ I may have bet on myself to win the race ¡­ and with those odds, I certainly have enough to get a place for her for a little while, if the Jedi can''t help, but certainly at least long enough for her to find a job doing something. Trust me as a slave there is plenty of jobs she''s done, so I''m pretty sure she can find a job somewhere. And finally, isn''t it all the more important that she is there if I don''t get accepted or would the Jedi just kick me out the door alone to fend for myself."


    Qui-Gon stared at Harry wordlessly for several seconds before looking to his mother. Eventually he shrugged his shoulders and looked back to Harry, a slight smile on his face, his eyes twinkling in amusement. "Well spoken young one ¡­ you certainly raise valid points ¡­ perhaps you''d be better suited as a diplomat. I have no doubt with you in the Senate, things might function as they were meant to." He shook his head and looked towards Harry''s mother. "Well, it appears you better pack as well. I don''t know if the Council will react positively, but I will do my best to help out."


    Harry smiled as he turned to his mother, seeing the look of shock on her face at the turn of events. Eventually seeing him looking at her she shook off her stupor and ran towards him, tears of happiness in the corner of her eyes, tightly embracing him.


    After several minutes she eventually, and regretfully, let him go. And as Qui-Gon suggested hurriedly ran around the dwelling grabbing whatever she thought she thought they might need.


    While she was running around Qui-Gon sat down at the table, smiling to Harry, jokingly asking, "Well is there anyone else you want to bring?"


    Harry paused for a second, before meeting Qui-Gon''s eyes, "Well ¡­" he trailed off.


    The Jedi paled slightly, "That was a joke. I highly doubt the Queen will enjoy taking on more passengers. I''d be able to defend you easily enough due to your selflessness in helping us and I''m pretty sure there would be no objection to bringing your mother due to your age, so that she could accompany you ¡­ but ¡­ another ¡­" he trailed off, shaking his head.


    Harry smiled towards the Jedi, "Well I was planning on leaving him here to help my mom. But if she is coming, I''d sure feel guilty about leaving 3PO behind."


    Withing the hour the three of them plus C-3PO were headed out of the settlement, stopping only quick enough for Harry to stop at Kitster''s, where he quickly explained everything to his friend, who was initially shocked but eventually incredibly excited for Harry ¡­ especially once Harry gave him the podracer to sell, telling him that anything earned was for him.


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    About an hour later, as they were crossing the desert, Harry froze in shock, looking over the dunes at the sight of Qui-Gon''s ship as it had come into sight, recognizing it immediately as the same ship he had seen approaching the planet ¡­right before he had woken up the first time here.


    Harry opened his mouth to call out to Qui-Gon who had continued walking but paused when he felt an uncomfortable sensation start to build steadily in the back of his mind. He looked behind him for a second trying to identify the feeling when it quickly intensified, allowing him to immediately recognize the feeling of malevolence that was quickly approaching.


    His instincts screamed of impending danger, causing him to spin in his tracks looking back towards the Jedi and calling out, "Qui-Gon, I think something ¡­ something bad is coming." He called out strongly, his voice tinged with urgency.


    The words had barely left his mouth, when the high-frequency whine of a speeder filled the air, the sound shattering the relative silence of the environment like a knife. Harry felt his heart began to race realizing that danger approached, and this was no droid this time.


    Feeling a sudden spike in danger, without hesitation and before Qui-Gon could even call out a warning, Harry leaped forward, knocking his mother to the ground, just as the speeder whizzed by overhead, the hot air buffeting his hair and tugging violently at the mokeskin pouch that he had securely fastened to his waist.


    Snap Hiss


    The two identical sounds, which overlapped, caused him to look up quickly. His jaw dropping open at the sight of Qui-Gon and another man holding lightsabers and facing each other.


    As he watched, the air seemed to crackle with tension as the two adversaries circled each other. Qui-Gon''s face a mask of calm determination, but his opponent wore a face that was twisted into a sinister sneer. And it was Qui-Gon''s opponent who unleashed the first flurry of strikes against the Jedi, moving with a speed that Harry had difficulty keeping track of.


    From his position, Harry watched in awe as their blades clashed with a shower of energy, the sound of the clashing weapons reverberating across the empty dunes. Qui-Gon''s movements were fluid and precise, his green lightsaber a blur as he deflected the relentless assault. But the red blade wielding opponent was unrelenting and to Harry''s untrained eye, his attacks seemed to be coming faster and fiercer with each passing moment, preventing Qui-Gon from mounting an offensive and keeping the Jedi on the defensive.


    Mesmerized by the sight, Harry didn''t register Qui-Gon''s shouts toward him, in fact it was only his mother shaking his shoulder which distracted him from the sight before them as she pulled him to his feet. "Come on, Ani." She urged; her voice filled with poorly contained concern. "Qui-Gon said we need to get to the ship and take off, he said the Queen is in danger."


    Harry risked one more look back to the fight before turning to his mother and nodding in agreement. He then followed his mother onto the ship, listening to her explain the situation to the individual who had run down the plank towards them as they approached.


    The individual seemed hesitant to re-board the ship, appearing to want to run out and join the fight, but slowly nodded, leading Harry, his mother, and C-3PO onto the ship. Standing by the loading ramp that he had not retracted he used the communicator and urged the pilot to take off immediately.


    Harry felt a rush of relief as the ship took off, although unlike his mother who allowed herself to be led into the ship, he stayed near the young man who remained standing near the loading ramp door, watching the continued duel below, between Qui-Gon and the red and black colored alien with horns.


    Harry''s mouth dropped open in shock when, without looking backwards, Qui-Gon jumped almost forty feet straight up, managing to just barely land on the still extended landing ramp, right in front of Harry, just as the ship had flown by right over when the fight had been occurring.


    Unable to say anything Harry watched as Qui-Gon''s head fell back in exhaustion, before he slowly and carefully got up, fully entering the ship, closing the loading ramp behind them, which was probably a good thing as Harry noticed the ship accelerating upwards, no doubt heading out of the planet''s atmosphere.


    The other man was the first to break the silence as he looked towards Qui-Gon. "Master ¡­ what was that?"


    Qui-Gon shook his head as he slowed his breathing, looking towards the figure that had addressed him. "Padawan, I have absolutely no idea what that was. I shall need to meditate. But I have no doubt that it ¡­ he was here for the Queen. We must hurry to Coruscant. There she will be safe."


    He paused looking over the shoulder of the man he was talking to, smiling at the sight of Harry.


    "Ah ¡­ perfect ¡­ Anakin ¡­ I''d like you to meet my padawan."


    Harry looked into the honest smiling face and piercing blue eyes of the young man who turned around, realizing he couldn''t be much older than his early twenties.


    Smiling to Harry, he extended his hand in friendship. "Hello there," he greeted warmly.


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 Interlude 1 - A Disturbance in the Force

    Yoda sat cross legged in the quiet depth of his chamber within the Jedi Temple, atop his padded chair, his eyes closed, attempting to get settle back into his deep mediation. He often found solace here due to his connection with the Force ¡­ but at the moment ¡­ something was different, and he believed the Force was responsible for his difficulty maintaining his meditation.


    Over the past several days he had felt strange fluctuations echoing through the currents of the Force, ripples that were noticeable even in the usual chaotic push and pull, that he normally felt in the Force ¡­ but less than ten minutes ago there had been a disturbance that echoed through the Force, a ripple so significant that it had caused him to almost fall off his chair in surprise and had so far managed to prevent him from re-achieving the calm necessary to meditate.


    With a furrowed brow, Yoda opened his eyes, shaking his head slightly, realizing that he was unlikely to get back to his meditative state in this condition. Slowly he made his way to the door, his senses tingling with a feeling that ¡­ something was coming ¡­ a sense that things were about to change. He could feel it, the sensations, though fading, so palpable that even without actively meditating, they sent shivers down his spine.


    Walking down the hall, the diminutive Jedi Master made his way through the corridors of the Temple, his mind focused on the source of the disturbance.


    Approaching the main hallway, a small smile graced his face recognizing the presence of the individual who was approaching from one of the other branches. Seconds later he nodded at the sight of Mace Windu who came around the corner looking as equally disturbed as Yoda felt.


    A look of silent understanding passed between them, as they both knew what brought the other into the corridors and away from their meditations.


    "Master Windu," Yoda greeted, his voice steady as he kept moving forward.


    "Master Yoda," Mace replied, his expression serious. "Something is happening ¡­ I was able to feel something through the Force. Something faint. Something unlike anything I have ever perceived before."


    Without another word, receiving only a nod, Mace joined Yoda as the two Jedi Masters continued their journey, their steps echoing through the halls of the Temple. Their destination clear ¨C The Jedi Library.


    As they entered the vast chamber, Yoda''s gaze swept over the countless shelves of ancient tomes and holocrons. He usually felt a sense of calmness from being in the presence of so much knowledge ¡­ but today the comfort was overshadowed.


    "Master Yoda, what is it?" Mace asked, his voice low as he followed Yoda slowly making his way towards the navigation sections.


    ''This disturbance we felt," Yoda replied, his eyes fixed on a holomap of the galaxy which had popped up in front of him, allowing him to physically walk between the stars and planets, pausing every once in a while before moving slowly off in another direction. "Distant it was, but localized to one planet I have no doubt."


    Mace''s eyebrows shot up in surprise, before he shook his head, looking over and following Yoda''s path through the holo galaxy, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "Which planet?"


    Stopping in front of a small, rotating, golden-hued holographic planet, Yoda answered slowly, not removing his gaze from the planet, his voice barely above a whisper, "Tatooine."


    "Tatooine?" Mace echoed, surprise evident in his voice. "What could possibly disturb the Force that significantly on such a desolate world?"


    "Find out, I intend to." Yoda said, determination shining in his eyes as he turned and made his way over to the main desk, approaching the librarian whose gaze was fixed on the datapad within her hand.


    Clearing his throat softly as he arrived at the desk, Yoda caught her attention causing her to look up, her expression one of mild annoyance at the interruption before recognizing who it was that had interrupted her.


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    "Ah, Master Yoda," she greeted pleasantly. "How may I assist you?" Come to discuss the history of our order again?"


    Yoda shook his head respectfully. "Greetings, Master Nu. Not today. A particular planet, I seek information on."


    Master Jocasta Nu raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "And what planet would that be Master Yoda?"


    "Tatooine," Yoda replied evenly, his gaze steady.


    The librarian''s eyes shot up even higher. "Tatooine? From what I recall there isn''t much to say about it. What, pray tell, do you seek?"


    Eyes narrowing slightly at her dismissive tone, Yoda shook his head slightly. "A disturbance in the Force, I sensed. From Tatooine, originated, I believe it did. And it''s significance, I wish to understand."


    The librarian''s skepticism was palpable as she shook her head. "A disturbance in the Force, you say? On Tatooine? Highly unlikely, Master Yoda. Tatooine is little more than a backwater planet, hardly worth the attention of the Jedi Order."


    Yoda stared up at her, unfazed by her skepticism, his expression serene. "Any information you can provide, appreciated it would be."


    Master Nu sighed, "Very well, Master Yoda, I will collect what you seek and personally bring it to your mediation chamber. But I assure you there is likely little of note about Tatooine in our records. It is a harsh and unforgiving world, populated by criminals and scavengers."


    Looking at her steadily, Yoda questioned, "Certain you are, that no more to this planet there is?"


    Bristling slightly at the implication, she laughed slightly. "Of course, Master Yoda. The Jedi Library contains the most comprehensive collection of knowledge in the galaxy. If there were anything of significance about Tatooine, rest assured, it would be recorded here. And if its not recorded here ¡­ it''s not worth knowing."


    Yoda nodded, positive that there was something more to this planet than what appeared, "Appreciate your help, I do, Master Nu."


    With a curt nod, Master Nu, headed off to collect the files for Yoda, leaving him to ponder her words. After a second he turned and motioned for Mace to follow him to a more secluded corner of the library.


    "Troubles me, this does." Yoda confessed in a low voice.


    His expression serious, Mace nodded, "Indeed. This is concerning. Although Master Nu is right, why would something happen on Tatooine? Do you have any idea what is happening?"


    After several moments of silence, Yoda sighed and shook his head, his mind racing with possibilities. "Unknown these events are but caution we must exercise. Know not what this disturbance is."


    Mace quickly nodded in agreement, his features hardening. "Should we send word to Master Jinn? I would need to check but I believe that he and his padawan may be the closest to Tatooine ¡­" he paused and looked around, before looking back to Yoda and continuing in a quieter voice, "¡­ although we still haven''t heard from them since they arrived in the Naboo system for their ¡­ assignment."


    Yoda considered the suggestion before shaking his head. "No, not yet. Trust in the Force to guide us. Observe and wait, for now we shall."


    Mace paused looking at Yoda as if he wanted to say something before nodding slowly.


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    Meanwhile just a short speeder ride away in the very heart of the bustling metropolis that was Coruscant, the towering spires of the Galactic Senate loomed over the cityscape below, casting long shadows over the throngs of the beings that filled the streets.


    Withing the upper floors of the building, Senator Palpatine sat in his opulent office, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he felt the disturbance in the Force, relieved that it had happened after his last meeting had ended and he had managed to keep his masking of his Force presence intact.


    While his primary focus was not in the nature of the Force, he was proficient enough that he recognized that this disturbance was significantly different than anything he had sensed before ¡­ it almost felt as it was a threat directed at him and the legacy of the Sith. It whispered of light and hope, its tendrils reaching out from across space.


    Pausing, he allowed a smile to form on his face as he opened his eyes. While he couldn''t help but feel this disturbance was a threat to all the Sith, since Darth Bane, had worked for, he recognized the faint impression of darkness ¡­ of anger.


    "Plagueis," Palpatine whispered, his lips curling into a sardonic smile. "It seems fate has more in store than we expected."


    With a twisted smile marring his otherwise smooth features, Palpatine rose from his seat, his mind already trying to work on how to respond to and take advantage of this.


    Gathering his resolve, Palpatine exited his office, making his ways through the labyrinthine corridors of the Senate building, before finally making his way to his private communications center.


    Activating the holocomm, he waited for several seconds, observing the silence on the other end of the line, which was broken only by the crackle of static. Then a figure materialized before him ¨C a figure cloaked in shadows.


    "Master, what is it you require?" Maul greeted, his yellow eyes blazing from under the hood of his cloak.


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 Always and Forever

    The next two days were incredibly enjoyable for Harry who instantly found that he enjoyed spending his time with the pilots and the engineers of the ship, learning first hand the ins and outs of the Naboo Royal Starship which he learned was a modified J ¨C type 327 Nubian Starship built by Nubia Star Drives and it belonged to the Queen.


    During his discussions with the crew, and even Jar Jar, he also began to piece together the story of their escape from Naboo before they were forced to make their way to Tatooine in need of repairs, a story which absolutely shocked him. Even though he had heard some stories within the cantinas on Tatooine about how some of the corporations and guilds of this galaxy took advantage of people, and in some cases, entire planets, in predatory ways, he had mostly discounted the majority of the insane tales as synthol or spice fueled exaggerations.


    However, hearing the story about how the Trade Federation could blockade an entire planet, basically depriving them of the necessary imported goods, simply in an attempt to force them to sign a more beneficial trade agreement seemed ridiculous to him, especially when coupled with the fact that they progressed to trying to kill the Jedi who came to negotiate before moving on to mounting a full-scale planetary invasion.


    But besides the rude awakening to the realities of the galaxy, he for the most part found himself to be enjoying the trip to Coruscant.


    Unfortunately, since Padme had retaken her duties to the Queen once they reboarded the ship, he found that he had only gotten to see her once more since they took off from the planet and this didn''t include when he had been summoned before the Queen, as she was not among the Queen''s handmaids.


    Shortly after entering hyperspace Qui-Gon had come to find him, bringing him to the Queen''s audience chamber for an incredibly brief introduction, with a short but albeit heartfelt personal thank you from the Queen, including what she said was an official offer to make sure that no matter what circumstances he found himself in in the future, both she and the planet of Naboo would never forget what he had done.


    That evening, well after she said her duties to the Queen were finished, Padme had come to visit him and his mother, primarily coming to make sure they were doing alright, as she recognized that the experience of travelling on a ship, even one as nice as the diplomatic ship they were on, with a Queen of a planet and a pair of Jedi, was unlike anything either of them had ever experienced and secondarily letting him know that the Queen''s offer was genuine and as long as everything worked out for Naboo both him and his mother would have friends with the people of Naboo. She also let his mother know that while Harry was likely to be busy with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as she had heard that they were going to start lessons with him, she was more than welcome to approach her and she would be able to find something for her to do to help the Queen.


    The next day, perhaps sensing that Harry wanted some time alone, his mother had done just that and after confirming that he was alright had gone off in search of something to do, leaving Harry to spend most of his day split between working on C-3PO with extra parts the ships crew had laying around, reading some of the books on magic that he found in the mokeskin pouch, and learning about space travel and navigation, including learning about the planets in the regions of space they were travelling through.


    While most of the planets were similar enough to Earth or Tatooine that Harry just nodded and tried to file the information about them to memory, some of them, like the planet of Manaan caught his attention and left him intrigued.


    One of the pilots, once hearing about Harry''s podrace ¡­ a story that all of the pilots had loved hearing about and had more than a couple times requested to hear Harry repeat the story, had taken to chatting to Harry about podracing and other variants of the sport, the biggest of which was swoop racing. A sport that the pilot had proudly told Harry that he had competed in at the amateur levels, as it was more open to human competitors (as they didn''t need the advantages that alien physiology usually provided non-humans), as while the swoop bikes themselves were generally faster than the podracers the tracks were safer and the races themselves were done solo, rather than all at the same time, so one never had to worry about another racer attempting Sebulba-like antics on the course.


    The pilot had told Harry about competing at an amateur invitational tournament on the planet of Manaan and winning, which had in turn brought him to the attention to of the Naboo Royal Space Corps and led to his current position. But even more interesting than his description of those events was his description of the course, revealing that the with the exception of Alto City, the entire planet was completely covered in water and while Harry learned that the whole planet was little more than an out of the way trading hub now adays it had once been the sole producer of Kolto, which was one of the natural precursors for Bacta which had eventually almost completely replaced it once it had been developed. The pilot had also shared a story with Harry that according to the historians Kolto had only been replaced due to a disastrous event about 4000 years ago which had rumored to have been caused by a Jedi and as a result Jedi were not welcomed warmly to the planet.


    However the most enjoyable thing that he had found, was in spending time with the Jedi. Shortly after they had left the planets atmosphere, after a much shorter amount of time spent debriefing the Queen than Harry had assumed would have been needed, Qui-Gon had invited Harry to his quarters where he began briefly explaining what would be instore for him and teaching him a couple of meditative exercises he claimed were to eventually help him access the Force with greater ease unlike his accidental and uncontrolled connections so far. Additionally, he also formally introduced Harry to his padawan, who Harry took an immediate liking to.


    While his chats with Qui-Gon were certainly interesting, Harry always left their chats feeling that the Jedi Master had a much more philosophical outlook on life than he would ever have, especially concerning the deeper mysteries of the Force, at least based on a brief conversation that Harry had accidentally partially overheard between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, regarding the living Force. That being said, although Qui-Gon often was in his room alone meditating on recent events or attempting to contact other Jedi, including his old Master, Harry, for the most part, enjoyed their conversations and found the man to be a good instructor, reminding him of Professor Lupin. However, as much as Harry appreciated Qui-Gon as a father-figure styled mentor, he really found himself to enjoy spending time with Obi-Wan.


    Originally Obi-Wan had been slightly dismissive of Harry and treated him as a child, but very quickly learned that Harry was much more than the nine-year old boy he appeared to be, and once he figured that out, he quickly began warming up to him. That being said while Harry found Obi-Wan to be selfless and honorable and significantly more patient than he was, he quickly found out that Obi-Wan expected 100% effort and wasn''t willing to take it easy on Harry when they went through the meditation exercises.


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    Harry sat cross legged in the dimly lit room the Jedi had been given to use for their mediating, his eyes closed in deep concentration. He focused his mind, attempting to quiet the chaotic thoughts that were racing through his head. While part of him enjoyed the peace and relaxation of attempting to meditate, he found that he struggled over longer periods due to his desire to be doing something, especially as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan seemed to effortlessly manage it.


    But in that specific moment, everything seemed to shift, his senses tingled as he felt a subtle shift in the ¡­ atmosphere around him. It was as if a gentle breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it a sensation of warmth, serenity, and belonging.


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    While not what he had expected or precisely how it had been described by Qui-Gon, he audibly gasped in awe.


    With a rush of excitement he opened his eyes, breaking the sensation he had momentarily experienced and turned to the other individual in the room who was seated in a similar position, a calm expression on his face.


    "Obi-Wan!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "I felt it! ¡­ I think ¡­ I felt the Force!"


    Obi-Wan''s eyes shot open in surprise. "Did you now?" He asked calmly.


    "Yes!" Harry replied smiling, feeling more certain as he reflected back on the feeling. "It was ¡­ more intense than anything I have ever felt before. But good intense. It was incredible though. I felt this ¡­ this energy flowing through me, like I was connected to everything around me."


    Obi-Wan''s surprised expression widened, "That ¡­ is indeed the essence of the Force ¡­ as I understand it, at least," he explained patiently. "It binds the galaxy together, connecting all living beings in a harmonious balance."


    Nodding, Harry briefly closed his eyes before reopeneing them, "But why now? How did I suddenly feel this today? Even though it was quick, it was intense and Qui-Gon said it would likely take weeks or even months to feel the faintest of an echo of the Force."


    The man sitting beside him nodded, considering the question thoughtfully. ''The Force works in mysterious ways," he replied eventually. "Sometimes ¡­ it reveals itself when we least expect it. But I have to admit ¡­" he paused for a second momentarily frowning before he managed to hide the expression, "¡­ while I was younger than you are now, when I first felt the Force, I had been training on Coruscant for almost six months before I felt the first whisper and it was several months after that when I felt it with any intensity ¡­ I need to grab Qui-Gon. I know he asked not to be disturbed by anyone when he was trying to contact Master Yoda, but I feel he will want to hear about this ¡­ maybe he''ll have an answer for you." He said as he stood up and made his way to the door before pausing and looking back to Harry. "Maybe try to see if you can regain that state before I come back and try to see if you can hold onto the connection for any amount of time."


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    Harry sat by his mothing in the ship''s common area, having trouble focusing on everything she was saying. He had just finally been excused from the meditation room by Qui-Gon after displaying that he could consistently enter the deep mediative state where he could feel the Force.


    After admitting his surprise at Harry''s progress, Qui-Gon let him know that he was well ahead of the curve and dismissed him for the day suggesting that he go find his mother, while letting him know that he would need to keep practicing so he would be able to access the Force more naturally and reliably without the need to meditate for minutes before hand. As Harry was leaving, Qui-Gon momentarily stopped him and let him know that he would need to spend time meditating by himself to fully understand what the Force meant to him, but admitted that he was nonetheless impressed by what he had accomplished.


    In the minutes before he found his mom and in the time since then, Harry had been partially distracted by Qui-Gon''s words and had been thinking about the Force and had slowly began to feel that something was incoming ¡­ something significant and it worried him.


    Perhaps sensing his distracted state, he felt his mom put her hand on his shoulder startling him causing him to look up.


    "Are you alright, Ani?" Shmi asked, her voice tinged with concern as she stared at him.


    Harry nodded, though his thoughts were far from settled, "I''m fine, Mom." He replied, although even he could tell that his tone was clearly lacking conviction. "Just thinking about everything that''s happened, what''s happening, ¡­ and I guess ¡­ what''s going to happen."


    His mother reached out and gently squeezed his hand, offering him a reassuring smile. "I understand, Ani." She said softly. "It''s a lot to take in. And while I can''t really help you with the things you are learning and the things you are going through. I''m positive that you will be able to face whatever comes your way, just like you always have ¡­ we are hardy people, after all."


    Pausing, Harry nodded before returning her smile, grateful for her unwavering support. "I know, Mom," he said, his voice filled with determination. "But I can''t help but wonder what will happen when we reach Coruscant. What will become of us?"


    Her expression grew somber as she paused, appearing to consider his question. "I''ve spoken with Qui-Gon since we left Tatooine ¡­ he came to visit while you were meditating." She explained, ignoring the look of surprise on Harry''s face, her voice tinged with sadness. "He apologized, admitting that leaving me behind on that planet was the wrong decision ¡­ but he warned me that should the Jedi Council accept you for training ¡­" she paused and smiled as she shook her head slightly. "¡­ which he seems quite confident that he will be able to arrange, despite the fact that they normally wouldn''t take you on due to your age ¡­ well that''s not important but he warned me that the Jedi Council may not be willing to allow us to be together."


    Harry''s heart sank at the thought of being separated from her, especially as he worked so hard to make sure she was coming to Coruscant in the first place, not liking the thought of merely abandoning her on a strange planet despite the fact that even after a likely unfair conversion to Republic credits she would likely have enough money to live in general comfort for some time, certainly more than long enough to find a decent job.


    "But why, Mom?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why would they keep us apart. I thought I''d already had the argument with Qui-Gon."


    Shmi smiled before sighing, her gaze distant as she struggled to find the right words. "Qui-Gon dmitted that leaving me in those conditions on Tatooine would have been a bad idea but said that since I won''t be in danger the Jedi Council will be more firm in their decision. He says the Jedi have their reasons," she replied, her tone resigned. "They believe that attachments can lead to the dark side, that love can cloud one''s judgement, especially those who strongly feel and use the Force."


    Harry shook his head and frowned, unable to comprehend how love could be seen as a weakness ¡­ as a bad thing, especially as it had literally saved his life several times. "That''s just ridiculous," he protested. "Why should we have to split up just because the Jedi say so? Especially over something that I think is so ¡­ well ¡­ dumb."


    His mom paused for a second before bursting out in laughter, which he found himself unable to prevent himself from joining in on.


    Eventually they calmed down enough that she refocused a serious look back on him as she reached out and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, her voice filled with warmth and tenderness. "I don''t have all the answers, Ani," she said eventually, her voice soft but resolute. "However, we don''t know the future, no one really does. But there is no point in worrying over what might or what might not happen before Qui-Gon even meets with the Jedi Concil. But I do want to let you know ¡­ no matter what happens, know that my love for you will never waver. And even if we are apart that doesn''t mean forever."


    Unable to express himself he nodded before eventually finding the words, "I love you, Mom," he said earnestly, his voice choked with emotion.


    "And I love you," his mother replied, her eyes shining with tears. "Always and forever."


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    They spent another couple of minutes talking, with Harry enjoying his mother''s company and support, before he noticed his mother beginning to yawn. After assuring her tht he was fine, she allowed him to walk her to the room she was sharing with several of the Queen''s handmaids.


    Shortly after dropping her off in her room, he realized just how much their conversation had served as a distraction, as the impending sense of something approaching hit him like a podracer, almost knocking him to his knees.


    Massaging his head to try and prevent the headache that he felt forming, he tried to make his way to the room he had been assigned to, although he suspected if anyone had seen him stumbling through the hallway they might have assumed he had discovered a stash of Corellian Ale. By some miracle, he managed to arrive just as he felt the weight of what was coming began to peak and his vision darken.


    He barely had enough time to drop into the meditative position on his bed, the position that Qui-Gon had shown him, remembering that the Jedi Master had told him it was helpfully for centering oneself, and close his eyes as he felt himself ¡­ get whisked away.


    As he opened his eyes he recognized that he was standing on the bridge of a ship, although it looked more antiquated than the various bridges of ships that the pilots had shown him holopictures of.


    Looking down the length of the center platform, towards the far end of the bridge, Harry saw an individual cloaked in a robe, staring out of the viewport ¡­ and as the figure began to turn ¡­even from where Harry was standing Harry could tell there was a lightsaber in his hand.


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    Harry froze for several seconds, waiting for the figure at the end of the ships bridge to make a move ¡­ but nothing happened. The figure remained staring out of the large window in front of them at a collection of ships in the distance.


    Slowly Harry looked up, his eyes warily leaving the drawn lightsaber only to freeze again in surprise at the reflection of a dramatic, red and grey mask which concealed the individuals face.


    He felt a chill run down his spine as he gazed upon the mask, its expressionless features betraying nothing of the figure''s identity. While the figure at the other end of the bridge had yet to move, there was an aura of power and authority ¡­ one of intensity that was impossible to completely ignore ¡­ and yet ¡­ there was something more ¡­ something elusive ¡­ something undefinable.


    Time seemed to stand still for several moments as Harry struggled to process the sight before him, ''was this real ¡­ was this a dream ¡­ was this something in between''.


    Eventually, as if sensing Harry''s presence, the masked figure turned in his direction, tilting his head slightly, facing him directly, his gaze seeming to pierce through the poorly lit bridge. Harry felt another shiver run down his spine as they stared at each other for several moments.


    But then, slowly, Harry felt his limbs waking up and he found himself moving forwards towards the figure, his footsteps echoing faintly against the durasteel floor before being swallowed up by the cavernous room. Each step brought him closer to the masked and hooded figure who remained motionless, seemingly content to watch Harry approach.


    As he passed the halfway point between them, he felt the bridge tremble violently enough that it dropped him to his knees.


    Shaking his head and picking himself up off the ground, looking out one of the giant viewports as he did so, he noticed that the largest of the spaceships had maneuvered and was firing on the ship Harry found himself in.


    Turning back to the figure at the other end of the bridge, Harry almost took a step back feeling a wave of anger and surprise rolling off them, even from where he stood. That feeling was short-lived as the person eventually managed to get control of their feelings. The sudden loss of the intense emotions was almost as shocking for Harry and nearly caused him to stumble again. Looking back up, Harry paused for a second, surprised by the complete lack of emotions from the individual, who if Harry hadn''t been able to recall the intense feeling of hatred that seemed to emanate from them only moments ago, would have thought that the recent events had no affect at all on them.


    As the figure continued to stare at Harry, he slowly began to approach the robed and masked individual again, absently noticing that the attack must have triggered an alarm as the emergency lights throughout the bridge were flashing, illuminating both the bridge and the silent guardian, first in red and then in purple.


    Finally, after several more moments, Harry reached the foot of the platform that the shrouded figure stood upon, the mask betraying nothing of the emotions or thoughts beneath and found himself at a loss for words.


    But then, to his surprise, the figure spoke, the voice a low, masculine, commanding rumble that seemed to resonate with the very core of Harry''s being. "This is certainly not your place and yet you seek answers, do you not?" he asked, his tone enigmatic.


    Slowly, Harry nodded, noticing his throat was dry.


    The man regarded him for a moment, his gaze penetrating and unfathomable from beneath the mask. And then, with a gesture so subtle, that Harry would have likely missed it without the years of Quidditch practice, the man nodded and extended a hand towards him, motioning for him to come closer.


    As Harry leaned forward to climb onto the platform, he heard a sound behind him which caused him to pause and turn around, completing the turn just as the large bulkhead door finished sliding open, revealing four figures ¡­ lightsabers drawn, being led by the youngest member of the party ¡­ a girl about his original age carrying a yellow lightsaber.


    Surprised, Harry quickly spun around to ask the masked man behind him what was going on, but as he turned everything began fading into a whirl of red and purple lights.


    This continued for several seconds before things settled and he found himself in a dimly lit room, absent of any furnishings.


    As Harry spun around his eye''s popper open in surprise, seeing that the source of the light in the room was actually coming from a shimmering cage of electricity ¡­ one that seemed to contain the body of a middle-aged man.


    He stared for a second before realizing that even though the man''s eyes were open, they, along with the rest of the body seemed to be completely paralyzed as if in some form of stasis and yet ¡­ even though the entire body appeared to be completely frozen ¡­ Harry could not shake the feeling that the person was calling out to him for help.


    Quickly, Harry spun around, searching the room, including a brief walk around the cage to check for some way to turn off the device and free the man, but his search came up empty as there seemed to be nothing in the room, certainly nothing Harry thought might be able to help him free the man ¡­ that included the fact that the door itself seemed to only be openable from the outside as there was no handle or knob or latch on the door to allow him to search elsewhere.


    Eventually, Harry was left with no other option and returned, empty-handed, to the front of the cage, staring up at the man, feeling as if there was something familiar about the man ¡­ something that was pulling him in ¡­ something that was drawing him closer.


    Almost unconsciously Harry felt his arm raise as he began reaching towards the man ¡­ although his hand was still at least an arm''s length away from the cage when he heard an alarm start ringing and felt a sudden surge of electricity course through his body. Agonizing pain shot through every nerve in his body, dropping him to his knees as he released a strangled cry. He felt his muscles spasming uncontrollable as darkness began to creep into the edges of his vision.


    Struggling to maintain consciousness, he gritted his teeth against the torment.


    Through the haze of pain, Harry glimpsed the figure within the cage, still completely frozen, seeming to watch him, a stare that seemed to pierce every cell of his very being. Though the man''s expression was unchanging, Harry felt waves of sadness and pity.


    Desperation fueled his resolve, even as he felt his strength being sapped. With a last-ditch effort, ignoring the agony that threatened to consume him, he reached deep within himself to gather the strength to stand, either to continue reaching for the prisoner or retreat back from the trap to mentally and physically regroup, he wasn''t sure which.


    But in the end ¡­ it didn''t matter. As if sensing the fact that Harry was fighting against the pain and unconsciousness the electricity intensified and within moments Harry''s vision completely blackened as he drifted into painless unconsciousness. The last thing he remembered was the sensation of falling away from the cage ¡­ and then he knew no more.


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    As Harry slowly regained consciousness, he felt a gentle breeze caress his face, carrying with it the soothing scent of flowers. Blinking his eyes open, he sat up suddenly, before jumping to his feet in one motion, finding himself up to his waist in tall grass on the top of a hill, under the warm sunlight of the sun in the sky above the planet.


    Confusion clouded his mend as he looked around trying to take in his surroundings and figure out where he was, as this planet was certainly not Tatooine, nor was it Coruscant based on the descriptions of the city-planet he had heard from the pilots. Looking around once more, Harry decided that although it matched the more nature-y feeling that Padme had used in describing Naboo, this planet was not that one either.


    As he turned to his right, he noticed a large estate off in the distance, its elegant architecture contrasting but seeming to compliment the serene natural beauty of the planet. As he continued his turn his gaze paused on a large, partially destroyed building off in the distance, its crumbling walls and missing roof evidence of an act of devastation that appeared to have occurred a while ago.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small flash of light, which was accompanied by a feeling of serenity that washed over him. Looking over, Harry froze in shock at the sight of a blue-tinged spectral figure standing slightly uphill from him gazing towards the ruin in the distance.


    Even though the ghostly figure was cloaked and not facing him, Harry could not shake the undeniable sense of familiarity that seemed to roll of the person, although his mind was still trying to process what he was seeing.


    Sensing no threat in the immediate area, Harry began walking towards the figure, freezing in shock when the ghost turned to face him. A wave of recognition washing over him at the sight of the familiar mask. Shock coursed through Harry as he stared at where the eyes should be his mind reeling with questions.


    Without a word, the ghost nodded slowly, before bending his head to remove the mask. With the mask removed, the figure looked up revealing the face of the man harry had seen suspended and paralyzed in the cage.


    "What ¡­ who ¡­" Harry began before shaking his head, looking back to the man, momentarily unable to find the words he was searching for.


    Meeting the man''s gaze, he was met by his amused eyes. "Greetings Anakin ¡­ or should I say ¡­ Harry. Welcome to what was once my home ¡­ welcome to Dantooine."


    Harry had almost missed the last part of the sentence, naming the planet, shocked that the ghostly man had known both the names of Anakin and Harry.


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    "Who are you? What are you ¡­ you look different from the ghosts I know? Where am I? How do you know who I am? Are you here to help? Are you ¡­ Death?"


    The man paused, staring at Harry for several seconds before he threw his head back in a good-natured laughter.


    After what felt like the better part of a minute, he eventually managed to calm himself enough to wipe his eyes and stop laughing.


    "You remind me of a young Twi''lek friend of mine, that I once knew ¡­ more questions than I knew what to do with and I can honestly believe that you are going to get into as much trouble as she had. But as far as who I am ¡­ while I have been known by many names, Death was not one of them. You may call me Revan."


    "Revan?" Harry repeated, questioningly. "What ¡­ are you?" he asked again, waving his hand in Revan''s general direction.


    "The ghost shook his head and smiled in amusement. "I am a Force ghost ¡­" he paused seeing the look of confusion of Harry''s face, and held up his hand to stall any questions, "¡­ I believe you have already started learning about the Force but upon my death I became one with the Living Force and have some ability to manifest myself. Although that''s not important. The more interesting question is who are you?"


    Harry looked away, glancing out over the windswept plains of the planet before looking back to Revan, unsure where to start or how to answer.


    However, Revan saved him from the uncertainty by meeting his gaze, this time with a softer, more understanding expression. "I mean, I know your story ¡­ at least parts of it. Your arrival in this galaxy was certainly felt by the Force. Being one with the Force granted me insight and knowledge with your arrival here ¡­ a fact I must warn you might be shared by anyone strong enough in the Force, although they would likely just receive that you are special or unique. This risk increases the more time you spend alone with them, especially if you leave your mind unguarded ¡­ I feel perhaps you have some ability to protect you mind that would help."


    Harry''s jaw dropped open, "You know of Occlumency? I thought my magic didn''t exist here."


    Revan shook his head slowly, "While I have seen many things during my time spent travelling, both within the Republic ¡­ and when I went beyond her borders ¡­ I saw many things including what some cultures labeled as magic; however I am unfamiliar with your form of magic. That being said it should suffice in this situation, should you manage to improve your skills. But I feel I digress ¡­ the question remains though, who are you? You will need to decide who you are or certainly you will succumb to temptation, thereby failing the galaxy, allowing it ¡­ and yourself to fall to darkness."


    Looking up at the man, Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I think I know who I am."


    Laughing, Revan shook his head, "Do you now ¡­ do you really? Certainly, you are no longer the boy who appeared in this galaxy, but neither I believe would you ever manage to completely be the boy from Tatooine ¡­" he paused and smiled humorlessly at Harry, "¡­ which honestly, for the sake of the galaxy, is probably a good thing. So even though you began your journey in this galaxy in the slave quarters of Tatooine, you have moved past that. That doesn''t need to be who you are forever. At some point you will need to decide for yourself on what your future will look like, deciding if you are to become your own person or if you simply plan to continue pretending to be who everyone thinks you are now."


    Looking up in surprise, Harry shook his head. "I don''t think its that easy ¡­"


    Revan interrupted shaking his head and laughing, "It is absolutely that easy. You have a chance to decide on who you are going to be." He paused and looked around pointing to the destroyed building in the distance. "That over there is where I started my journey to become a Jedi, eventually managing to become a Jedi Knight. But the Mandalorians had decided to attack the Republic and I ¡­ well I''m assuming you can relate but I was impatient with the lack of response. I believed that the Jedi were being too passive, and I didn''t want others to suffer, especially when I felt that I could help, so I chose to join the fight. After the war, my ¡­ friend and I, discovered something on this planet which led us on an adventure well beyond the known regions of our galaxy into the Unknown Regions, where we stumbled upon the Sith Empire." He paused for a second to take a breath, nodding after seeing Harry''s eye''s shoot up in surprise. "Eventually we came across the Emperor of the Sith ¡­ unfortunately we were unprepared, and he was far more powerful that we had expected ¡­ in the end we were corrupted and seduced by the power of the dark side. The words and promises of the Emperor taking away out power of choice ¡­ he made us into Sith Lords."


    Harry let out an audible gasp and involuntarily took a step back away from the ghost, recalling what Obi-Wan had mentioned to him about the Sith when Harry had asked him about other Force users in the galaxy. "You''re a Sith?"


    The man shook his head slightly, "I''m not but ¡­ neither am I a Jedi anymore, neither by the definition of the Jedi in my day, nor the description that you will learn. However, once Alec and I returned to the Republic space we took the names Malak and Revan and began attacking the Republic. Until once again my ability to choose was taken from me. A Jedi strike force led by ¡­" he paused and smiled looking off into the distance, "¡­ well led by my future wife, boarded my ship and with the unintentional help of my former friend, managed to capture me."


    Revan stopped talking and looked back to the remains of the Jedi Enclave before shaking his head bitterly and looking back to Harry, "The Jedi Masters recognized that I was both a danger to them but at the same time, they sensed either a potential for my redemption or that I was the key to their survival. But whatever their motivation, they made a decision to take away my ability to choose my future and to alter my memory, rather than execute me for my deeds. I suppose they hoped that by erasing my memories and reprogramming me to be loyal to the Republic, they could turn me back to the light side and use me as a weapon against Malak. ¡­"


    Harry scoffed, eyeing the man warily, as he shook his head, "So you think the Jedi were the bad ones?"


    The expression on Revan''s face hardened for a second before it softened, as he shook his head, "Obviously with the case of the Jedi and the Sith, the Jedi are good ¡­ but that doesn''t mean that a Jedi is always correct ¡­ everyone is fallible. Believe me or don''t believe me, it doesn''t matter but I suspect you will learn this quick enough once you get to Coruscant and have the chance to interact with the Jedi, but that''s not the point I was trying to make. I''m sure it was something even you experienced before you came to this galaxy, even those on the side of good can make mistakes, and conversely not everyone who uses or spent time to understand the dark side of the Force is evil."


    He paused again, exhaling a long breath and waiting until Harry reluctantly nodded. "But whether their decision was right or wrong ¡­ I eventually managed to regain my memories ¡­ or at least most of them. And then when I felt a danger ¡­ an evil approaching the Republic I was finally able to make a decision. Even though it was difficult, and it meant leaving behind my friends, my wife, ¡­ and my unborn child ¡­" he trailed off, his voice full of emotion. "Even though it was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. It had been given the opportunity to make a choice. A decision that even though it cost me the chance of ever seeing any of them again ¡­ a decision that I feel was the right one and ended up playing a part in saving the Republic from the threat that had been approaching it."


    Harry looked at the man with sympathy, watching as he stared in the skies as if searching for something or someone, perhaps recalling old memories.


    "But my point, Harry, is that at some point, probably sooner rather than later, you''ll need to decide on who you are and what you are willing to do for what you believe in ¡­ what you are willing to sacrifice for those you care about. And for that ¡­ I wish you the best of luck."


    With that statement, he began to fade until Harry found himself alone on a hilltop.


    He wasn''t sure how long he was up there, enjoying the refreshing, comforting breeze on his face but slowly everything began to fade around him, not in a way that was worrisome but rather in a comforting way, like when everything slows down when preparing for bed.


    The next thing he knew ¡­ that''s exactly where he was. Back on the bed he had fallen asleep on.


    Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the bottom of the bunk that was above him, confirming his location. Stretching to help loosen his muscles, he shivered slightly, apparently missing the warm comforting air of the planet he had dreamed about.


    Looking over to the door as he slowly sat upright, he paused and raised his eyebrows in confusing. There, just inside the doorway stood Obi-Wan and Padme, both staring at him with matching looks of shock, both their mouths hanging open.


    Concerned, Harry finished sitting up quickly, however as he leaned towards the side of the bed, he heard the sound of small impacts around the room. The sound of the small items falling to the ground caused him to look away from the two at the door and look around the room, his eyebrows shooting back up in surprise, watching a couple items that might have been higher off the ground hit the floor.


    Looking back to Obi-Wan and Padme for an answer he saw that they were still staring at him. "What?" he asked. "What were you doing, Obi-Wan?"


    "Me ¡­" replied the stunned Padawan, confusion evident in his voice. "What do you mean ¡­ I''ve never ¡­ Anakin that was ¡­ I ¡­ I think I''m going to grab Qui-Gon." He said quickly, stumbling over his words, before abruptly turning and running out of the room.


    Harry looked over to Padme in confusion. "What was that about? What was with all those floating items? I had watched Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon running through some Force exercises where they moved objects through the air ¡­ apparently as a form of centering and calming themselves. But why was he doing that in here while I was sleeping ¡­" he trailed off, noticing the look she was still giving him. "And why were the two of you staring at me so weirdly ¡­ sort of like you are still doing right now."


    Padme shook her head, trying to rid herself of the look of shock on her face, "Obi-Wan? Oh ¡­ you think that was Obi-Wan doing that?" She paused and looked behind her, into the ship''s main corridor, before looking back to Harry. "I was heading to see you as I wanted ¡­ that is the Queen wanted to make sure you were doing alright and she wanted me to run an offer by you, as a way to thank you for your actions and the risk you took on our behalf on Tatooine to get us the parts we needed to fix the ship."


    She took a breath and looked at Harry who nodded for her to continue.


    "I had run into Obi-Wan in the hallway, apparently, he was coming to grab you in order to have you accompany him and discuss something with Qui-Gon. But when we opened your door, we heard you ¡­ well it sounded like you were having a conversation. Obi-Wan was confused ¡­ we both were. But when Obi-Wan stepped into the room ¡­ all the small items seemed to be lifted up ¡­ forming a small, rotating vortex around your bed. Obi-Wan had actually just been trying to explain things to me, letting me know that there was no way you should have been able to have that control or ability with the Force ¡­ especially while asleep. And then you woke up. As soon as you sat up and looked at us ¡­ well ¡­ everything sorts of fell to the floor ¡­" She paused waving her hand to the mess of objects that were laying all over the room.


    Harry glanced around the room in shock, staring around and wondering if this was a similar event as to the accidental magic that the Dursley''s had been all to in favor of punishing him for when it happened when he was living with them ¡­ although he shook his head and discounted the idea as based on Obi-Wan''s reaction ¡­ he felt this wasn''t expected.


    Looking back to Padme, he saw her staring at him, an expectant and concerned look on her face.


    "Sorry, what?" he asked. "I missed what you said."


    She opened her mouth before she stopped and paused, looking around the room once more before looking back to him. "I asked if you are alright? Is everything ok, Ani?"


    Harry began to respond, before he cut off his response, reflecting on her question ¡­ Revan''s words seeming to echo in his ears at that moment.


    Looking back to her, he realized that the man was right and while he was likely to have serious decisions to make, he''d need to decide on who he was going to be. But while it might be trivial, he could start now, having decided he was tired of how everyone had been addressing him.


    Shaking his head, he looked back to Padme. "Everything is alright, but everything is different. I am no longer just the slave boy from Tatooine you met. That chapter is behind. I''m going to be more. Anakin doesn''t feel right anymore."


    "Oh ¡­" Padme said in surprise, clearly not expecting that. "What do you want me to call you then?"


    Recalling pictures of his parents and their voices saying his name, when he had held the resurrection stone in his hands before he had gone off to confront Voldemort and when they had materialized after their wands had connected, Harry looked up to her and smiled.


    "Harry." He said simply, a smile on his face at the sense of rightness in his actions. "Please call me Harry."


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 My Name is Harry

    Three days later, Harry along with his mother joined the Jedi and Queen Amidala on the bridge of the ship as they began prepared to enter the atmosphere of Coruscant.


    "And welcome to the center of the Republic. Welcome to Coruscant, Anakin ¡­" Qui-Gon said before shaking his head, " ¡­ sorry, I mean Harry."


    Smiling up at the Jedi Master, Harry nodded before looking out the giant viewport at the city that was quickly expanding, growing larger and gaining definition as they began their descent, thinking back to his discussion with Qui-Gon when he had woken up from the Force vision.


    He wasn''t sure if it was because he was motivated by his conversation with Revan or if it was the fact that he finally decided that he felt a little bit like an imposter every time someone called him Anakin, but whatever the reason, when Obi-Wan had returned to the room with Qui-Gon, Harry had repeated what he had told Padme, letting the two of them know that he wanted to be called Harry


    Whatever it was that Qui-Gon had expected to see and discuss after he had been summoned by his padawan, who had refused to elaborate when he summoned him from his meeting with the Queen''s head of security, it had certainly not been that.


    Flashback


    Harry was sitting cross-legged on his bunk, talking to Padme, the hum of the ship''s engine providing a comforting backdrop to their conversation when the door slid open, revealing Qui-Gon Jinn.


    As the Jedi Master entered, Harry''s eyes shot up, noticing for the first time a calming presence that came with him.


    "Anakin," Qui-Gon greeted with a gentle nod and warm smile on his face. "Obi-Wan came to fetch me as if there was some emergency, however he never elaborated simply saying I was needed. Are you alright if I enter? I''m not interrupting anything, am I? Is everything alright?"


    Harry looked to Padme before looking back to Qui-Gon and nodding, motioning to the chair alongside the wall in the room. "Of course, Master Qui-Gon. Everything is alright."


    The Jedi Master stepped into the room, only to suddenly freeze and look around. Eventually, his eyes settled onto Harry, allowing him to see the Jedi Master''s raised eyebrows.


    Qui-Gon shook his head slightly as he moved closer, his gaze thoughtful as he observed Harry, a glint of understanding in his eyes as he sat. "I sense a disturbance in the Force, surprising that I did not feeling it when it happened, judging by its intensity, but certainly undeniable. I assume the reason my padawan cam to collect me was that you used the Force?"


    Harry hesitated before taking a deep breath and nodding slowly. "I ¡­ I didn''t mean to, but I think so. I was meditating, trying to clear my mind and then started thinking about things ¡­" Harry paused mid-sentence wondering if he should share about his vision of Revan, but just as he opened his mouth, he felt something that seemed to urge him not to share. After several seconds of silence, he tilted his head to pretend he was trying to recall the moment and then continued. " ¡­ I was thinking about my future and my past, who I am compared to who I was. And then it happened. I didn''t even realize it was happening until Padme and Obi-Wan entered the room and woke me."


    Qui-Gon stared at Harry for several seconds as if waiting for more, before he finally nodded, his expression serious but not unkind. "The Force is strong with you, Anakin, that much is obvious. Stronger than I''ve seen in any your age, much less any who were yet untrained in the ways of the Force."


    "Really?" Harry asked as his eyes lit up. "Based on how Obi-Wan had reacted I was worried I was in trouble or had done something wrong."


    Chuckling Qui-Gon looked over to his padawan who stood just inside the door to the room and was sheepishly examining the wall beside him. "I believe Obi-Wan many have just encountered a situation he was not prepared to deal with, but I see no reason for concern. If anything, this makes me more confidant in my decision and it should aid my discussion with the Jedi Council." He paused, looking back to Obi-Wan before making eye contact with Harry again. "But I have a feeling that as significant as your experience with the Force was ¡­ there is something else that you wish to discuss even more. What''s on your mind young one?"


    Hesitating at Qui-Gon''s perceptiveness, Harry recalled his conversation with Revan that lead to his announcement to Padme who was sitting on the other end of the bed nodding towards him. Eventually he straightened his shoulders and looked back to the Jedi Master as he took a deep breath. "Master Qui-Gon," he began a little nervously, unsure how to begin. "I ¡­ I want to change my name."


    Surprised by this announcement, Qui-Gon stared at him for several seconds before he began speaking. "Ah. Well while it is certainly not the norm it is not entirely unheard of for a young one to change their name when they begin their path to becoming a Jedi, but as they are usually younger than you they have had less time to grow accustomed to their names. And a new name can signify a new beginning and allow you a chance to redefine yourself ¡­ why there is even a rumor in the Jedi Temple that Yoda changed his name when he joined the order." He paused at the sound of Obi-Wan choking, before letting out a laugh.


    Harry''s eyes lit up in relief at how well his statement was received, before he looked between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. "Really?"


    With a laugh Qui-Gon shrugged his shoulders, "It is only just a rumor as Master Yoda does not share plenty of stories from his early days with the order and there are few species as long lived as him who would be able to confirm or deny the rumors. But that is besides the point, to some a name is less a part of your identity than your actions or decisions and as such names can be shed or taken on to reflect your journey as you feel it does not fit you."


    "Thank you, Master Qui-Gon." Harry said as he felt a surge of relief wash over him.


    Nodding Qui-Gon looked at him, "So if no longer Anakin, what should we call you."


    Harry smiled as he looked over to Padme and then back to the Jedi Master, "Harry Potter."


    Qui-Gon looked at Harry, mouthing the name to himself before nodding again. "Certainly, a unique name, but I suppose no more than Qui-Gon would be to a Twi''lek pr Pikk Mukmuk would be to a Wookie. It''s a good name ¡­ and I can''t help but feel that it fits you better than Anakin did."


    Harry''s heart skipped a beat as he coughed, "Thank you, that means a lot to me."


    Qui-Gon nodded, before his expression turned more serious. "Of course, Ana¨CHarry. I''ll leave you for now, I should probably get back to my meeting but to go back to that little outburst of Force power ¡­" he paused pointing around the room. "The level of your connection that I feel in this room is certainly rare for someone in your situation. Most padawans aren''t able to do what you did until much later in their training, especially not without training."


    Harry blinked as he looked down, feeling a mix of pride and concern.


    However, almost immediately he felt Qui-Gon''s hand tighten on his shoulder. "I feel that you have the potential for greatness An¨CHarry, but you must be careful. The Force is wonderful and powerful, but it can be dangerous if not handled with respect and wisdom. Promise me you''ll be careful and not push yourself to do something you are unable to do before proper training ¡­ especially while we are aboard this craft.


    Harry met the Jedi Master''s gaze, determination shining in his eyes. "I promise, I''ll be careful and try to avoid blowing holes in any walls until we are at least in a planet''s atmosphere."


    Qui-Gon smiled, warmth returning to his expression. "Good. That is all I can ask."


    With a final reassuring pat on his shoulder, Qui-Gon rose and left the room, leaving Harry to chat with Padme and Obi-Wan for several minutes, before eventually, unable to shake the feeling that he needed to have a conversation with his mother, he excused himself and left the quarters, walking through the ship''s corridors until he found her in a small observation room, staring at a holographic map of the galaxy as the lines of the stars flew by outside the viewport.


    Hearing him enter, she turned and smiled at his approach.


    Unsure where to start, Harry walked up beside her looked at the map for several minutes in silence, feeling her eyes on him.


    "Ani, you''ve been quiet," Shmi began softly, breaking the silence. "What''s on your mind?"


    Leading her over to the bench on the wall, Harry sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. "Mom, I''ve been thinking about a lot of things. Things are changing, and my future ¡­ well its going to be different."


    Shmi smiled slightly as she looked at him with eyes full of understanding, "Things have always been different with you. You are special, Ani. I''ve always known that. But there''s something else, isn''t there. What else is troubling you?"


    Taking a deep breath, Harry looked up at her, his expression a mix of determination and apology. "I''m going to change my name."


    "Change your name? Why ¡­ why would you want to do that?"


    Harry felt his heart drop at the sound of her voice, before he guiltily looked up at her, seeing the hurt and confusion in her eyes. But knowing he needed to be direct and as honest as he could he responded right away. "Because Anakin Skywalker was a slave. I was just a boy who had to leave everything behind to chase a dream that he could never have thought of. I''m not just that boy anymore. Master Qui-Gon ¡­ I believe I have a destiny. I want a name that reflects who I''m becoming, not who I was on Tatooine."


    His mother looked away for several seconds before looking back to Harry, the sadness still evident in her expression. "Who you were is a part of who you are, and it''s just as much a part of who you will become eventually. Changing your name won''t change your past or what you''ve been through."


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    Harry nodded feeling the guilt building within him, as he forced himself to continue meeting her eyes. "I know, mum. Even though I want a fresh start and to become someone who can make a difference in the galaxy, I will never forget my past or what we''ve been through together. I just want to become more than who I was."


    Shmi stared at him in silence almost to the point of it being uncomfortable before finally sighing, her fingers reaching out and gently brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "If ¡­ it this is truly what you want, I won''t stand in your way. But remember, Ani, no matter what name you want others to call you, you will always be my son, and I will always love you."


    Harry smiled, a hint of tears in the corner of his eyes as he closed the distance between her and embraced her in a hug, "Thank you mum and there''s no way I''d ever forget that."


    His mother tightened her embrace on him before releasing slightly and leaning back. "Have you thought about what name you want to take?"


    Looking back at her a thoughtful look on his face he began, "Well, I was thinking about ¡­"


    Present Time


    It took the better part of an hour once emerging from hyperspace before the Naboo Royal Starship entered Coruscant''s atmosphere and in that time due the fact that Harry had not seen anything remotely close to the scope to the city-planet on Tatooine or even in London, Harry had been unable to help himself from standing with his nose practically pressed against the glass of the ship''s viewport, staring wide-eyed at the sight of the seemingly endless sprawl of skyscrapers and the constant stream of air traffic passing by them as they descended.


    Without turning around, Harry could tell that Queen Amidala was still standing, tall and composed, right behind him, looking out the window, but he could tell, that even though she had seen much more of this galaxy than he had, she was almost as excited as he was, as she hadn''t seen any planet like this. A thought which made him smile and he noted to talk to Padme about it later.


    "Welcome to Coruscant," Qui-Gon repeated taking a step between the two of them. "It''s the metaphorical beating heart of the galaxy, home to the Senate and the Jedi Temple and trillions of trillions of beings from all corners of the galaxy."


    Harry turned to him, excitement and apprehension in his eyes. "It''s so big ¡­ way bigger than I imagined based off your description. How do people find their way around?"


    Qui-Gon smiled as he looked out the window. "You get used to it after a while. Because there are several hundreds of levels to each building, and each has its own districts and neighborhoods, most people end up staying relatively close to their homes, in fact I am sure there are some people who are born and die on Coruscant that never make it beyond their neighboring buildings. But that being said, if anyone ever needs to go somewhere they can use the repulsor-lift vehicles, like the ones you see outside, to navigate the city."


    Harry nodded, absorbing the information, before turning back to look outside. "What''s the plan once we land?"


    "I''ve been in communication with the Jedi Temple since we entered the system," Qui-Gon began, ignoring the look of concern on Queen Amidala''s face at the thought of him breaking the radio silence he had been so adamant no one should break during their journey. "Master Yoda and Master Windu, who are among the wisest of my order, are aware of out pending arrival. They''re arranging for Jedi representatives to meet us at the landing pad, along with Senator Palpatine, and of course a protective detail." He finished, nodding to the Queen as he said the last part.


    Harry watched as Queen Amidala''s eyes shot open in surprise, her calm demeanor breaking slightly as Harry saw relief in her eyes. "Senator Palpatine? From Naboo?"


    "Yes," Qui-Gon confirmed. "Once he was informed of our impending arrival, he has been very concerned of your well-being and has made every effort to increase your protection while you are here. Beyond that though, the Jedi Council believes that with his influence in the Senate he''ll be instrumental in bringing your plight to the attention of the Senate. He''ll no doubt be able to guide you through the political landscape ahead and support your case against the Trade Federation."


    The Queen nodded, her eyes flickering with relief as she shoulders relaxed. "I hope his influence will be enough to sway the Senate."


    Qui-Gon reached out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder but seemed to think better of it and withdraw it. "Likely not by itself but his influence will be enough to sway some and there is a chance that his words can help to stir the Senate to action, your Highness. And, though the Jedi have no power or influence within the walls of the Senate, we will help where and if we can."


    Harry tuned out the Queen''s response as he looked back out the viewport.


    As the ship descended lower towards the city''s buildings, he watched as a landing pad came into view directly ahead of them, seemingly bustling with numerous bodies, no doubt all eagerly awaiting their arrival.


    Looking back, past Qui-Gon and Queen Amidala who were engaged in a conversation, Harry saw his mother staring out the viewport with an expression of equal parts wonder, excitement, and nervousness. As if sensing his attention on her, she looked down towards him and smiled slightly, before walking up to him and clasping his hand, a gesture which was more relaxing than he had expected it was going to be.


    "Thanks mum," he whispered, leaning in.


    Her response was cut off as the ship settled with a gentle bump and hiss. Looking up Harry saw Qui-Gon motion for Harry to join himself and Queen Amidala before motioning for his padawan to head to Harry''s mom.


    Nodding to her and whispering that he''d be alright, he joined Qui-Gon and the Queen as they made their way to the center of the ship, arriving just as the ramp finished extending onto the landing pad below.


    Standing at the base of the ramp was the most intense man Harry had ever seen, his robes fluttering in the breeze, his stern demeanor making Harry slightly nervous.


    "Welcome, Master Qui-Gon," the man greeted, his deep voice resonating with authority, although it was gentler than Harry had expected. "It''s good you managed to arrive without further issues."


    Qui-Gon bowed his head respectfully as they made their way down the ramp. "As am I. Thank you for meeting us, Master Windu. This is Queen Amidala of Naboo." He said, motioning to the Queen who greeted and thanked the Jedi Master. Once that introduction was done, Qui-Gon turned to Harry and motioned for him to step forward and join him. "And this is the boy I had mentioned. Anak¨CHarry."


    Harry watched as Mace Windu looked back to Qui-Gon momentarily before his eyes settled back onto him, a cross between surprise and interest on his face.


    However, before he could reply a figure stepped out from behind Mace Windu, surprising Harry not only for appearing but also due to his appearance, as while on Tatooine he hadn''t seen or heard of any species that even resembled the individual that was slowly walking out from behind Mace Windu. While the individual was about as tall as the Jawas on Tatooine, or at least he might have been if he wasn''t hunched over, he looked more like a green muppet than anything.


    But as surprised as Harry was, Qui-Gon''s reaction was even more severe. "Master Yoda! You didn''t have to come down here to greet us. Once we made sure that the Queen and her retinue were safely on their way, we were planning to come right to the temple."


    Yoda waved off the concern with a dismissive gesture. "No worries, there are. Still move, I can. Better than most think, I believe. Some things, worth seeing in person, they are." He turned to Queen Amidala his eyes twinkling with a warmth that Harry felt reminded him of Professor Dumbledore. "Goof it is, that safely you made it here, Your Highness."


    Queen Amidala offered a respectful now. "Thank you, Master Yoda. Your presence here is a great honor. Master Qui-Gon told us all about you on our flight. I truly appreciate your help in arranging this welcome party for us and certainly appreciate the timely intervention of the Jedi on Naboo, without whom I would surely have found myself a captive of Nate Gunray and the Trade Federation."


    As Yoda nodded amicably, a man in a billowing purple robe separated himself from the crowd of people behind the Jedi, immediately making his way over to Queen Amidala and introducing himself as Senator Palpatine. However, while the Queen seemed relieved by his appearance, Harry lost interest in him quickly as he reminded him of Fudge simpering over the next big thing and on top of that, out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw that Yoda was looking at him.


    Looking towards the ancient Jedi Master he watched as the Jedi nodded slowly after closing his eyes. "Strong in the Force this one is. Right you were, Qui-Gon to bring him here. A destiny, clearly, he has."


    Harry felt a slight shiver run down his spine at Yoda''s words. He shook his head to rid himself of the feeling before he attempted to mimic Qui-Gon''s greeting and bowed, passably albeit clumsier. "It''s an honor to meet you, Master Yoda."


    Yoda smiled as he nodded, "Young you are. But potential, great it is." With that he turned around and began walking with Mace Windu towards the line of nearby speeders.


    Out of the corner of his eye he saw Senator Palpatine move suddenly which drew Harry''s eyes to him and caused their eyes to meet. Almost immediately Harry felt a suffocating presence, a darkness that was more intense than anything he''d felt before. Unlike the wild and erratic evil of Voldemort, this was cold and calculating. Possibly what Voldemort might have felt like before he created all his horcruxes. However, the part that scared him the most was the probe that seemed to be pushing forward from the man. Reflexively Harry clamped down on his thoughts and emotions, using what he had learned regarding Occlumency that he had learned from Snape but more helpfully from the book he had spent several hours on while flying here that he had found in the Mokeskin pouch.


    And then, as quickly as it had come, the invading presence vanished and Palpatine smiled at him, a seemingly benign expression. However, Harry couldn''t shake the feeling that the Senator was studying him.


    Before Palpatine could say anything, Qui-Gon placed a firm hand on Harry''s shoulder startling him slightly and causing him to look at the Jedi Master.


    "Come Harry. There will be time to check in with the Queen later, but the Council has arranged temporary accommodations for you and your mother in the Temple where you can stay until a decision is made regarding your training."


    Harry nodded, before looking back, only to see that Palpatine was no longer looking at him but instead was leading Queen Amidala and her party towards another man who was surrounded by a small collection of individuals.


    Qui-Gon must have seen the questioning look on his face, as he followed Harry''s line of sight to where Queen Amidala had entered into an animated conversation with the man, before looking back to Harry. "That''s Chancelor Valourm, the leader of the Republic. Queen Amidala should be in good hands. He''s sympathetic to the situation on Naboo, but his presence here is a good sign for the Queen."


    Harry nodded as he looked back to Qui-Gon who was looking over to where the Queen was. "I suppose the decision is yours though, you can either come to the Temple now or go with the Queen''s party, I believe you have been forming a friendship with one of her handmaids ¡­ and then there is Jar Jar, so you will not be alone." He said with a smirk. "There will be some time, while the council debates before they are ready to meet with you."


    As he looked over to try and see Padme in the Queen''s retinue he shivered involuntarily as his vision passed over Senator Palpatine again. The memory of the brief sensation he had gotten when they had first met was enough that he quickly looked back to Qui-Gon as he shook his head. "I''d like to come with you. If that''s all the same to you."


    Qui-Gon smiled as he waved over Harry''s mother who had been standing beside Obi-Wan and motioned for them all to head towards the speeder that master Yoda and Master Windu had just arrived at.


    As they caught up and boarded the speeder, Harry''s mind was still reeling from the memory of the brief but intense meeting with Senator Palpatine. He thought about mentioning it to Qui-Gon, but the presence of the other Jedi and the complete lack of response they had towards the Senator made him hesitate.


    Almost immediately after they sat down, the speeder took off towards the Jedi Temple, and the concern over the Senator disappeared as he very quickly became caught up in the towering spires and grand architecture of the city.


    However, at that moment, unknown to harry, someone stood on the balcony ledge of the room that they had broken into, a room which had a clear view of a landing pad which was occupied by a certain Naboo Royal Starship. As the person watched the several speeders leaving the landing pad, they slowly brought up their arm to their mouth and spoke into a communicator that was cleverly sewn into the cuff of the shirt. "Eyes on the target."


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 Meeting the Jedi

    After the small speed touched down smoothly on one of the many landing platforms that seemed to be sticking out from nearly every building, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan escorted Harry and his mother down the ramp. Seeing their wide eyes, Qui-Gon smiled and pointed out notable landmarks that were visible among the towering spires and the endless stream of air traffic that was visible from their landing platform.


    Several minutes later, at Obi-Wan''s urging, they spun around and started heading towards their destination.


    "Welcome to the Jedi Temple," Qui-Gon said, his voice calm and reassuring. "This is the heart of the Jedi Order, and where most of the Jedi reside while on Coruscant."


    Harry looked up at the imposing structure of the Jedi Temple as Qui-Gon described it, noting the five spires reaching for the sky. "Is this where we''re going?" he asked, excitement and nervousness clearly evident in his voice.


    "Yes," Yoda replied after making his way down the ramp with Mace Windu. "Stay here you shall. The both of you. But excuse us you, you must. A meeting Master Windu and I, must attend."


    After saying a brief goodbye, the two Jedi Masters headed off in the direction of what appeared to be the main entrance, while Qui-Gon and his padawan led them to the side of the building, letting them know that this entrance led to the area where any dignitaries who had business with the Jedi Council would stay.


    Eventually, after finally making their ways indoors, they made their way through the bustling corridors of that section of the Jedi Temple, enjoying the atmosphere. Jedi of all ages and species moved around, some engaged in deep discussions, others in quiet meditation, and still others doing what looked like a variety of exercises. As they walked around, Harry was unable to prevent his eyes from darting from one area to the next, trying to take in every detail. He appreciated that his mother walked beside him, her expression a mixture of awe and apprehension. But it wasn''t until he reached out and grasped her hand that she seemed to let out a deep breath and began to enjoy everything they were seeing.


    Eventually, Qui-Gon led them to the guest quarters, stopping at the door which slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a room that had to be at least as large as the entire Gryffindor Common Room. "These will be your rooms for now," Qui-Gon said, gesturing for them to enter. Even though the accommodations were simple they appeared to be extremely comfortable and welcoming, a stark contrast to the harsh conditions of Tatooine.


    His mother who had been staring in shook at the room, slowly made her way back to Harry where she put a hand on his shoulder as she looked back to Qui-Gon with a smile on her face. "Thank you, Master Jinn," she said softly. "This is more than I could have ever hoped for, we appreciate everything the two of you have done for us."


    Qui-Gon nodded, his eyes warm. "There is no need to thank us. Beyond what I believe to be true about young Ana ¨C Harry here, it would have been incredibly distasteful of us to do nothing for him and yourself, after he volunteered to help us back on Tatooine, ignoring the risk to himself to help strangers, with no thought of a reward for himself or for you. While the Jedi are certainly not capable of righting every wrong in the galaxy, there are certainly some instances when the correct path is clear. We are merely trying to repay our debt."


    Harry who had half been paying attention to their conversation still excitedly looking around the room, looked back to the Jedi Master excitedly. "What''s the plan now? Do we get to meet back up with the Queen''s party? Do you still need to protect her?"


    Qui-Gon shook his head gently, "The Queen is in good hands," he assured them. "She''s meeting with Senator Palpatine to discuss the future of their planet and that is a conversation surely beyond my scope. As for you, you are free stay here and recuperate, I can only remember how exhausting my first interstellar trip was. And when you are feeling up to it, you are certainly free to explore the temple, but I advise you not to leave, at least without arranging a guide. Coruscant can be especially dangerous for those new to it."


    Harry nodded in understanding before eagerly looking between the two Jedi. "Can you show me the Jedi training here?" he asked.


    Qui-Gon chuckled, "we shall see ¡­ that is if you have not already stumbled upon the training areas before we are done. Obi-Wan and I are off to speak with the Council about the situation on Naboo, the individual who attacked us on Tatooine, and of course, your future, Harry. However, if things appear to be taking a while we can arrange a Jedi, possibly one closer to your age to show you around should you require.


    "Sounds good." Harry said with a smile before looking over to one of the holoscreens in the room.


    With that, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan took their leave, bidding farewell to the two of them who, before making their way to the Council Chamber to discuss everything that had happened to them since they headed out to Naboo.


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    Qui-Gon and Obi- Wan stood in the center of the Council Chamber, the silence weighing heavily upon them. The twelve Jedi Masters seated before them, both in person and holographically, stared at them intensely, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.


    "Master Qui-Gon," Mace began, his deep voice resonating through the chamber. "Perhaps let us start with what might be the most important part. You brought a young boy to Coruscant, one you believe to be of significance. Tell us more about him."


    Qui-Gon nodded as he stepped forward. "His name is Harry Skywalker. We ran into him on Tatooine, as a slave, when we had sustained damage while escaping Naboo. What makes him extraordinary is not only the way the force swirls around him, for honestly, I have never felt another like him, but also his unusual origins. His mother, Shmi Skywalker, claims there was no father. She carried him, gave birth to him, but ¡­ I believe he was conceived by the Force."


    A murmur of surprise and shock rippled through the Council as they looked back and forth between each other before finally Yoda settled them down by raising his hands. He looked back to Qui-Gon, eyes narrowed in thought. "No father, you say? Certainly, strange and mysterious, this is."


    Qui-Gon nodded and continued, "Beyond the question surrounding his birth, Harry''s potential is unlike anything I have ever seen before. His midi-chlorian count is higher than even Master Yoda''s. He could be the Chosen One, the one prophesized to bring balance to the Force."


    If his previous statement of Harry''s parentage had caused unrest in the Council, his most recent one left all the Jedi Masters on the Council, with the exception of Yoda and Windu, staring in shock, as their attention shifted from Qui-Gon to Yoda and then back again.


    "When we first encountered the boy it was under extraordinary circumstances and he showed incredible selflessness and bravery, in aiding us in getting off Tatooine. Without his help I don''t know how much time it would have taken us to get off the planet, certainly longer than we ended up having in the end before we were attacked. But, even with all the previous things I mentioned, it was what happened while we had been aboard the Queen''s ship while on our journey to Coruscant that truly convinced me of his potential. One of the Queen''s handmaidens and my padawan ¡­" he said nodding and motioning to Obi-Wan, "entered his room to talk with him and witnessed Harry using the Force with the ease of someone may years his senior. And while I had not witnessed it myself, I was shocked by the traces of the Force that I was still able to feel when I entered the room."


    After seeing Obi-Wan''s nod confirming his masters statement, the Council members exchanged glances, their expressions varying from concern to intrigue. Yoda closed his eyes for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought, before finally speaking. "Sense something different with this boy, when met upon your arrival I did. Incredible, his potential is ¡­ but dangerous, he might become. Unknown his future is."


    Mace nodded in agreement. "I too think I felt the presence of the dark side surrounding this boy, but ¡­ there is also a great potential for good. While I strongly urge caution, I believe it might be unwse to just ignore his potential. Who knows what might become of him if left without teaching. But testing him soon would be prudent so we could have the information to make our decision."


    Qui-Gon bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you, Masters. There is much to discuss and prepare for the testing but I will bring him here myself when you are ready."


    Yoda opened his eyes, his gaze penetrating. "Test the boy, we shall. Much rests on this decision, I believe. But what of the attack? Significance to this I believe there is."


    Immediately, Qui-Gon''s expression grew serious. "He was skilled in the dark side of the Force and wielded a red lightsaber. While I managed to escape, I certainly don''t think I won that fight ¡­ especially as I don''t believe he was there for me, but rather that he was after the Queen of Naboo. I mediated on the confrontation and nothing else makes sense. I feel ¡­ that this is not the last I will see of him and that his presence is a threat that we can not ignore."


    Yoda sat up straighter in his seat and ignoring the questioning look from all the other Jedi Masters in the room, he looked to Qui-Gon. "A Sith, this attacker may have been. Grave danger, the galaxy is in. If indeed it is the return of the Sith."


    Holding his hands up to stop the outbursts from Yoda''s statement, Mace, who hadn''t looked away from Qui-Gon once he had started talking about the attack, nodded. "Master Qui-Gon, I believe it would be best to start at the beginning. Tell us everything. Tell us what happened since you left to make your way to Naboo. If indeed the Sith have returned, the Jedi Council needs to know everything."


    The Council Chamber fell into complete silence once more as everyone looked at Qui-Gon, with the same intensity of Mace, everyone waiting for him to speak.


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    Shortly after Harry had wathed Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan disappear down the corridor, he turned to his mother who he found looking around their new quarters with a soft smile on her face.


    After a second she turned to him. "I''m going to rest for a while," she said gently, her eyes betraying her exhaustion from the journey. "This place feels ¡­ so different from Tatooine, but in a good way. At the very least here it feels safe. I''m guessing you don''t want to stay here and go for a nap. Do you?" She asked, a slight smile forming on her face as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Seeing him slowly shake his head she nodded, "I suppose you''ll be safe if you explore the temple. Just be careful ¡­ and try not to get into any trouble, alright?"


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    Harry nodded eagerly. "I promise, mum. I''ll be careful and try not to be gone too long."


    With a look that showed she didn''t entirely believe that she smiled as she settled into one of the room''s comfortable looking chairs and motioned for Harry to head out as she closed her eyes.


    His heart racing with excitement and a hint of nervousness, Harry slipped out of the quarters and began wandering through th quiet corridors, marvelling at the architecture and overwhelmingly serene atmosphere of the temple.


    Eventually, after what felt like the better part of an hour he opened a door and found himself in what looked to be an armoury, where rows and rows of lightsabers and other weapons sat behind a rather thick piece of glass.


    Moving over to the wall, Harry saw a collection of smaller plainer looking lightsabers with a plaque above them stating that they were training lightsabers. He reached out to touch one of the lightsabers, his fingers just about to brush the hilt, when a voice from behind interrupted him.


    "Careful there, young one."


    Harry turned to see a tall, imposing humanoid figure clad in Jedi robes that were similar to Qui-Gon''s. The mad had a commanding presence, yet his eyes held a warmth that put Harry at ease.


    "I''m Jedi Weapon Master Cin Drallig," the man introduced himself, extending a hand. "You must be Harry Skywalker. When I heard of your presence and possible wanderings I figured there was a chance you might end up here, most potential padawans tend to find their way here eventually."


    Harry shook the man''s large hand. "Sorry, Master Drallig. I was just ¡­ exploring."


    Master Drallig smiled looking from Harry to the lightsabers and then back. "There is certainly no harm in exploring. Although non-padawans are not allowed to touch the training sabers. Rather than hang around here listening to me drone on about rules or the lightsabers, how would you like to watch some Jedi in the training room? I imagine you''d certainly find that more enjoyable."


    Harry''s eyes lit up with excitement. "I''d love that!"


    Master Drallig led Harry to a large training room where several Jedi were engaged in combat practice. The room was alive with the hum of lightsabers and the rhythmic sounds of unarmed combat. Harry marveled at the different styles of fighting, his eyes darting from one duel to another.


    "These are some of our most skilled combatants," Master Drallig explained. "We focus not only on lightsaber techniques but also on unarmed combat and other forms of self-defense. Obviously no armed conflict is the same so each Jedi must be versatile and adaptable."


    Harry watched in awe as two Jedi sparred with lightsabers, their movements precise and fluid. The blades clashed and hissed, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and sound, one that was almost too fast to follow with his eyes. In another part of the room, a group of younger Jedi practiced hand-to-hand combat, their movements swift and controlled.


    "Do you see that Jedi over there?" Master Drallig pointed to a tall, agile female who was effortlessly deflecting her opponent''s attacks. "That''s Jedi Knight Shaak Ti. She may not be one of the strongest or fastest but she''s one of our best. Watch how she moves, how she anticipates her opponent''s actions."


    Harry focused on Shaak Ti, trying to absorb every detail of her technique. He could see the way she flowed with the Force, her movements almost like a dance. It was inspiring and humbling at the same time.


    After some time, Master Drallig led Harry to a quieter corner of the training room where they could observe without being in the way. "What do you think, Harry?" he asked.


    "It''s incredible," Harry replied, his voice filled with awe. "I''ve never seen anything like it. The way they move, it''s like ¡­ it''s like nothing I''ve seen before. It''s like ¡­"


    "It''s like they are part of the Force itself." Master Drallig nodded. "That''s the goal. A Jedi must become one with the Force, allowing it to guide their actions. It takes proper training and dedication, but the reward is worth it."


    Harry felt a surge of determination. "I want to learn. I want to be a Jedi."


    Master Drallig smiled and nodded, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That is not my choice to make. Although I believe that is currently what the Council is deciding at that moment. But remember should you be accepted, it requires patience, discipline, and a commitment." With that he suggested Harry continue his tour as he turned and began providing feedback to a pair of padawans.


    Leaving the training room, he wandered through the temple, eventually finding himself in the Great Archive Room. The shelves were lined with countless holobooks and data scrolls, the accumulated wisdom of the Jedi Order.


    Harry walked slowly through the aisles, his eyes scanning the titles. Some of them seemed to leap out at him. Some of them like "Differences Between Kolto and Bacta" caught his eye, even as they related more mundane topics. While others like "Mysterious Disappearances of Entire Species from the Guestrea to the Rakata," seemed to call out to him.


    After about an hour of wandering the aisles, he promised himself that if he had the chance, he would definitely come back and spend as much time as he could on a variety of topics. However, the sheer amount of knowledge contained in the archives was overwhelming, and even after an hour he hadn''t been able to decide on something to pick up without immediately returning it as something else caught his eye.


    Continuing his exploration, Harry stumbled upon the Padawan dining room. A few children around his age were gathered at a table, chatting and laughing. One of them, a human boy with dark hair, noticed Harry standing hesitantly at the entrance.


    "Hey, you!" the boy called out, waving him over. "Want to join us?"


    Harry smiled as he approached the table, grateful for the friendly invitation. They did not seem to care that Harry had not been accepted yet and proceeded to introduce themselves, sharing stories of their training and life in the temple. The boy who had called out to him introduced himself as Ferus Olin.


    For a moment and probably the first time since he woke up on Tatooine, Harry felt like he belonged, like he was just another Padawan sharing a meal with friends.


    After leaving the dining room, Harry continued his exploration, feeling an inexplicable pull towards a particular part of the temple. He followed his instincts and found himself at the entrance to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The sound of cascading water filled the air, creating a soothing environment that resonated deep within him.


    He stepped inside, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though the fountains had stopped. Harry blinked and shook his head, and everything returned to normal. He walked through the room, drawn to one of the garden areas. Settling down on a patch of soft grass, he remembered the meditation techniques Qui-Gon had taught him and began to focus.


    The tranquility of the garden enveloped him as he practiced meditating, feeling the Force flowing around him. Time seemed to lose its meaning, and he wasn''t sure how long he sat there.


    Suddenly, he felt a presence nearby ¡­ someone was watching him. He wasn''t sure how he knew, but the sensation was undeniable.


    Just as worry and confusion began to creep in, a gentle voice called out to him. "Hello there. I didn''t mean to startle you."


    Harry opened his eyes and turned to see a Jedi standing a few steps away. The boy''s robes were a deep brown, and his expression was kind and welcoming.


    "You must be Harry Skywalker," the Jedi said, stepping closer. "I was sent to find you. My name is Jax Pavan."


    Harry stood up. "Yes, I''m Harry. How did you know I was here?"


    Jax Pavan smiled. "The Force has a way of guiding us to where we need to be. Come walk with me and perhaps I can answer some of your questions."


    Harry nodded, falling into step beside the Jedi. As they strolled out of the room and through the temple''s hallways, Jax began to speak.


    "My master told me to find you, Harry," Jax said, glancing down at the boy. "The Jedi Council meeting is running long, but I have a message for you."


    He pulled out a small datapad and handed it to Harry. "It''s from Padm¨¦."


    Harry''s heart skipped a beat as he read the message. Padm¨¦ invited him to come to the Senate Hall as the Queen wanted to have words with him about something. She also mentioned that if he was interested and quick about it, he could watch the Senate meeting. Harry''s excitement grew at the thought of seeing Padm¨¦ and watching the Senate in action.


    "I''d like to go to the Senate Hall," Harry said eagerly.


    "My Master expected that was likely to be the case," Jax replied with a smile. "I''m ready when you are."


    Harry smiled before he looked back down one of the hallways that he was pretty sure led towards the guest quarters. "Although I should probably leave a note for my mother first. Just in case she isn''t awake yet."


    As expected, when they returned to the quarters that he and his mother had been assigned, he found her still asleep, having at some point decided to move to one of the bedrooms. Not wanting to wake her, Harry scribbled a quick note for his mother, explaining where he was going and that he was with another Jedi. He placed it on the small table where Shmi would see it easily when she woke up.


    With that done, Harry and Jax left the temple, making their way through the bustling streets of Coruscant. As they made the trip, Harry discovered that Jax was only a couple of days older than him, which made their connection feel even more natural.


    "So, you''re pretty new to the temple too?" Harry asked as they navigated the crowded walkways.


    "Well, it depends how you look at it," Jax replied. "I was first brought to the temple before I was four, so I''ve been here for more than half my life, but compared to Yoda ¡­ did you know he is over 700 years old."


    Harry''s mouth dropped in shock, not having expected that.


    Even though it involved a lot of walking and a lengthy speeder ride, the conversation made the journey to the Senate Hall feel shorter. When they arrived, Jax presented the token from the Queen that had been included with the message. The guards examined it and allowed them to enter.


    After making their way inside the building that Harry felt would have easily engulfed the Jedi Temple, an aide approached them, a friendly smile on her face. "Welcome, young Jedi and honored guest. My services have been retained by the Queen of Naboo, so I will be giving you a brief tour of the Senate Hall before the session begins. Please, follow me."


    Harry and Jax followed the aide as she led them through the impressive corridors of the Senate Hall. She pointed out various important rooms and features, including the offices of key senators and the chambers where legislative discussions took place.


    "The Senate Hall is the heart of the Republic''s governance," the aide explained. "Here, representatives from countless worlds come together to debate and make decisions for the betterment of the entire galaxy."


    Harry listened intently, trying to absorb every word.


    As they continued their tour, the aide got an alert on her communicator and began to lead them in the direction of the main hall. "The session is about to begin," she said. "I will guide you to a guest box where we can observe the proceedings. Official boxes are reserved for senators and high-ranking officials, but you will have an excellent view from the guest box."


    Harry nodded, his excitement building. They reached the guest box, and the aide gestured for them to enter. "Enjoy the session, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. There will certainly be a lot going on."


    Harry and Jax took their seats, and Harry''s eyes widened as he looked out over the grand chamber. The senators were gathering, and the room buzzed with the hum of conversation and anticipation.


    Eventually, the Supreme Chancellor called for order, and the discussions started on the various pieces of business that were up for discussion that day. Harry watched intently as various senators spoke, their voices rising and falling with the weight of their concerns and arguements. Amidst the political debate, Harry''s eyes scanned the room until he found Queen of Naboo, standing alongside Senator Palpatine. He was slightly disappointed that Padm¨¦ was not in the box but had to admit that the Queen looked poised and focused, her presence commanding respect even among the seasoned politicians that the aide identified were in her vicinity.


    After several pieces of business, the Queen stepped forward to present the case for Naboo, her voice clear and strong as she described the dire situation on her planet. Harry was impressed, but his admiration quickly turned to shock as the sheer volume of voices and the bureaucracy began to overwhelm the proceedings. Senators from countless systems spoke up, each adding their own concerns and demands, turning the session into a chaotic jumble of voices.


    Harry watched in disbelief as the debate seemed to dissolve into disorder. Amidst the chaos, he noticed Senator Palpatine leaning in to whisper something into the Queen''s ear. Her expression hardened with resolve as she nodded and then raised her voice to make a motion to replace Chancellor Valorum.


    Kind Regards,


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