After this story, I'll be going quiet on the uploads, I'm still on chapter 2 of the next story and I plan to hold off on uploading until a story is finished, that way I won't ever go back to uploading half a story and then getting distracted by the drama that is life.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except one moped and two laptops.

Chapter 1 – Jedi Staying Over

It was the day after Harry's thirteenth birthday and Andrew was in the passenger seat of one of the Order's shuttle cars, his Master in the driver's seat and two wrapped gifts in his lap. They were driving along Privet Drive, heading for number four.

Flashback

Andrew and Mel had just walked through the main door of the Temple, before leaving, their Masters were called into a sudden council meeting. They had gone back out to replace Harry's gift, after making Harry a belt and clip for his lightsaber, Andrew then noted that the belt was just big enough to fit him now. Give the guy a couple of months and he'd out-grow it.

Between the two of them they felt that they had bought Harry something he could really use. Especially since Andrew had gained the Council's permission to tutor Harry in the basic use of the Force.

"Oh there you are Andrew," Jessica McKnight said when she saw them, the Grand Master's wife handed him an envelope saying Hedwig had just arrived with it.

Andrew,

You've got to rescue me! I just gotten my letter from Hogwarts, but then my uncle said that his sister was coming to stay for a while. I CAN'T STAND HER!

I begged my uncle to let me have someone come over to help me cope with her and he finally agreed I could have someone from the Temple stay for a week, mainly because it'll help with his cover story … apparently he's been telling people I attend "St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys", apparently the Jedi run the place and do the teaching.

Please get permission, I can't last long by myself!

Harry.

Andrew then showed the letter to Mrs McKnight who said she'd have a word with his Master and her husband, in the meantime he should go and pack. Mel took the gifts and wrapped them while Andrew ran off to his room, deciding only to pack clothes and come back for his school things when Harry came to London for shopping.

End Flashback

"Now remember, Andrew," Jarod said from the driver's seat. "You're a teaching assistant at the school."

"Yes Master, I remember. And I'm to call you as soon as this Marge has left, so you can come and pick us up and Harry can stay with us for the rest of the holidays." Andrew answered.

"Correct, well, here we are." Jarod announced as he pulled up to the curb.

They got Andrew's bag from the back seat and walked up the garden path to knock on the door.

Vernon Dursley answered and scowlled.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed.

"You told Harry someone from the Temple could come and stay?" Jarod enquired.

"Yes, but it was supposed to be someone from the Centre, not one of his freakish friends!" Dursley answered, fighting to keep his voice down.

"Well you've got me, and we both have to keep our stories straight don't we," Andrew snapped, crossing his arms.

Dursley wanted to slam the door in the Jedi's faces, but his Sister just so happened to call at that moment and ask who was at the door.

"A tutor from Harry's School!" Andrew called back, smirking in a very satisfied way as Dursley let them in.

"Good morning ladies," Jarod greeted cheerfully as he shook hands with Petunia and Marge, "I am Jedi Master, Jarod Cooper, I teach at the Centre young Harry attends, and this is my Padawan and teaching assistant, Andrew Payne."

"It's a pleasure," Andrew added, also shaking hands.

"Why are you here?" Marge asked. "Keeping an eye on the trouble maker?"

"Actually no, Andrew wanted to get a little extra teaching experience and Harry's doing so well in his lessons that he warrants extra credit." Jarod answered without missing a beat.

Jarod then tried to say his farewells but Marge insisted on him staying for a cup of tea, Andrew then took the opportunity to head up to Harry's room.

Harry begrudgingly answered his door when Andrew knocked but smiled immediately when he saw who was there.

"Thanks for coming, you're a life saver, she's only been here a day and she's getting to me, thankfully she's not gotten onto the topic of where I go to school," Harry said quickly as he shut the door behind Andrew.

"Well you can take it from me, they're talking about it now, but don't worry, you're a model student," Andrew said with a laugh as he handed Harry his gifts from himself and Mel, "sorry they're late, but we thought since I was coming anyway..."

Harry tore open the paper and instantly put the items on, thanking Andrew.

"Once she's gone, Master Cooper's coming to pick us up and you're staying with us until school starts," Andrew explained. "Plus, do you remember using the Force on Valentines day?" Harry nodded. "Good, because I've been given permission to give you basic training."

"Cool! OUCH!" Harry exclaimed, Andrew had just stabbed his thumb, as he looked down, he saw some kind of device in Andrew's hand, a clear partition had Harry's blood in it.

"You need a midi-chlorian count," Andrew said with an apologetic look. The device in his hand started bleeping as it scanned Harry's blood and transmitted. "This thing only scans the blood and then sends the data to the Temple for analysis.

Harry nodded and looked around, wondering where Andrew was supposed to sleep, he noted that there was only his bed or the floor as he started to worry that Andrew might need to take his old room under the stairs.

Just then Petunia came in without knocking, holding a pile of bedding in her arms. "Oh, perfect timing," Andrew said, pulling his web-shooters from his backpack and slipping them on. He fired a line to the walls on either side of himself, tying the lines together, he did this two more times before running up the wall and firing at the three strings going across Harry's room. He bounced a little as he landed on the webs.

"There, one hammock, just a shame I'll have to do that again tomorrow," he announced as he took Petunia's load from her and laid out his 'bed'.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It's like a real spider's web, it disintegrates within 24 hours, but it's great for travelling light." Andrew answered.

"So long as it won't leave a mess," Petunia commented before she left.

"Andrew?" Jarod called from downstairs. The young Jedi struggled a little with getting out of the hammock before the two boys left Harry's room and walked down the staircase.

"I'm heading back to the temple, be mindful as always and you can't go far wrong." Jarod said, Andrew nodded and bowed to his Master.

"Of course, Master, may the Force be with you," Andrew said as a farewell.

After Jarod left, Andrew let out a yawn and stretched. "I tell you, driving all the way from London hurts!"

"Why didn't you fly?" Harry asked.

"Master Cooper hates flying," Andrew explained, "and he decided since he was taking the car back then he'd drive us here. Mrs Dursley, would you mind if I used the back garden for a while?"

"What for?" her husband demanded suspiciously.

"I need a sparring match to loosen up a little." Andrew answered honestly.

"Ha, and where are you going to find a partner around here?" Vernon laughed Harshly.

"I'll show you," Andrew answered with a grin as he turned and rushed upstairs to fetch something from his duffel bag.

"Master Cooper insisted that I bring one of these along so I don't get rusty during my week away from the temple," he explained, showing them a sphere in his palm.

"Is that one of those things from Star Wars?" Dudley asked, causing everyone to look at him. "That flies around trying to shoot you?"

Andrew chuckled when he realised what he was talking about. "Oh no, certainly not … that's for toddlers. No this, well, it's easier to show you." And with that, he led them out to the back garden, asking the five of them to stand back, he walked to the centre of the lawn, pressed a hidden button on the sphere and jumped back, taking his lightsaber hilt from his belt and preparing himself for battle.

The others watched in fascination as the sphere started moving about, unfolding itself like a mechanical rubik's cube, until after a few moments, a droid was standing on the lawn. It had spindly arms, spindly legs and a perfectly round head.

"This is one of our travelling training droids. they're used for occasions like this one, for Jedi who will be spending more than a couple of days away from home. It's purpose is to provide a sparring partner while also being small and easily packed in luggage." Andrew explained.

"How does it wor-OW..." Harry started, but Marge whacked his shins with her cane.

"How does it work?" She asked.

Andrew scowled at her briefly before answering. "I simply tell it which style I wish to practise and it will attack me accordingly, for instance, Form one, is designed to reflect incoming fire, so if I say 'Shii-Cho'.."

He was interrupted by the training droid suddenly drawing a gun, from out of its hand, and opening fire, causing Andrew to ignite his lightsaber and start blocking with fairly basic moves.

"Now this," he shouted over the hum of his and the droids weapons, "will keep going until the droid hears me say 'cease'!"

Suddenly the droid stopped firing and put its weapon away. "Are you insane boy?" Vernon exploded. "That could have killed you!"

"Hardly, 'present ballistic'" on that command the droid offered its weapon, Andrew took it and removed the clip, showing that it was shooting rubber bullets.

"As you can see, if I'd not been as skilled as I am I still wouldn't have been harmed," Andrew finished.

"I take it the Sith are a little more harsh." Harry said, earning another whack from Marge.

"Will you kindly stop attacking my student!" Andrew shouted at Marge.

"He wasn't spoken to," she snapped.

"I don't give a flying monkey's foot! He asked a valid question, and if there is to be any punishments dished out to him while I'm here," Andrew lectured, drawing his lightsaber again, "I'll be the one to do it, am I clear madam?"

Marge glared at the boy shouting at her, before growling, "Perfectly, young Jedi."

"Thank you. You're right of course Harry, the Sith also use similar droids, but they're programmed to kill. Even an Apprentice, using a training droid, is fighting for his or her life."

After that, Andrew had a brief but furious bout with the droid, it was using Juyo and he was using Soresu, all the while explaining the differences in style to a thoroughly interested Harry and Dudley.

Then for the rest of the day, Andrew pretended to teach Harry extra-curricular mathematics and try hard not to tell Marge off every time she boomed out a suggestion for Harry's improvement.

That is until Andrew lost his temper and shouted back, "Has anyone suggested that for your improvement?"

At that point, Andrew took a deep, calming, breath and told Harry that lessons were over for today and that they should turn in.

Once they were shut in, Andrew leaned his hands on Harry's desk "How in the name of all that is Holy, can you put up with her Harry?" Andrew asked, seething.

Just then Petunia came in with a tray loaded with the boys dinners.

"It's a deal me and Uncle Vernon have, I keep my nose clean and not back-talk Aunt Marge and he'll sign my form so I can go to Hogsmeade," Harry answered, accepting his dinner from his aunt, who looked torn between sympathy for Harry and annoyance at Andrew shouting at her Sister-in-law.

"Thank you Mrs Dursley," Andrew said as she placed his dinner on the desk next to his hand. Andrew then stood up and looked Harry dead in the eye. "Well he bloody-well better sign your form the second she's out the door."

"Or else what, exactly?" Petunia asked.

"Let's just say I won't be able to show my face in the Temple if he doesn't and leave it at that," Andrew answered before tucking into his meal.

The rest of the week went rather smoothly, Vernon would quietly wake the boys up early, Petunia would get them to eat something quickly and send them out 'on an errand', which they conveniently took all day to do. While they were out wasting time, Andrew would have Harry practising something, like levitation, for the entire day and then they would be home, their errand completed and dinner on the table.

This allowed them to get through most of the day, at least, without having to listen to a word Marge would say about Harry. But the drawback was that she seemed to keep a stockpile of insults ready for dinner.

It wasn't so much what she was saying that annoyed either of the boys. What annoyed Andrew, at least, was that she was talking about Harry, as though he wasn't even there. However, Andrew had to applaud his friend, for he had taken to focusing on lines from a book Hermione had given him for his birthday, whenever Marge was starting to get to him, which allowed him to tune her out.

The book in question was on the subject of broom care, and whenever Harry thought about the words in the book, Andrew would hear them in his own head, as though Harry were deliberately talking to him telepathically so that they could both tune her out.

Sadly though, this method was not to last. On her last night in the Dursley residence, Marge decided to stop poking insults at Harry, and start on his parents instead.

"You see, it's all to do with breeding, I see it all the time. If there's something wrong with the bitch then there's something wrong with the pup." Marge said.

"That explains so much about you then," Andrew muttered, causing Petunia to send a glare at him.

"Now I'm not saying anything against your family Petunia," Marge said, patting Petunia's hand, having mistaken the glare at Andrew for a glare at Marge's remarks. "But your Sister was a bad egg."

At this, Andrew clenched his fists. "And on what evidence do you make that assumption?" he spat, emphasising 'ass'.

"The fact that he's in your school," Marge answered with a slur while pointing at Harry, clearly getting drunk on the mixture of wine and brandy that the Dursleys had supplied her.

"This Potter," she continued loudly, seizing the brandy bottle and spilling most of it as she refilled her glass, "you never told me what he did?"

Vernon, Petunia and Dudley shared a tense look, glancing at the Jedi who was so obviously teetering on the edge of losing control.

"He … didn't work," answered Vernon, glancing worriedly at Harry, "unemployed."

"Nice out," Andrew half-growled.

"As I expected!" Marge shouted before downing her glass of brandy, dribbling some of it on her chin which she wiped on her sleeve. "A no-account, good-for-nothing, lazy scrounger who-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" shouted Andrew, smashing his fists so hard on the table that it wobbled.

The rest of the table stared at the Padawan in shock as he jumped to his feet, sending his chair flying backwards. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK LIKE THAT ABOUT THE DEAD, HAVE YOU NO RESPECT FOR ANYONE BUT YOURSELF?"

"Now look here-" Marge started, but he cut her off a second time.

"Harry! Get your things! We're out of here!" Harry nodded and left to go to his room.

"You have no evidence to support one word of what you've said about Harry's parents, everything you've said against the boy has been plucked out the air without a single moment of brain power going into it." Andrew was panting with rage now and his hand was twitching towards his lightsaber.

"You know nothing about him and yet you see fit to chastise him for no reason, well enough," he was miraculously calming down. "Mr Dursley, a word in the hallway if you don't mind!"

Without another word, Andrew turned on his heel and stalked out of the kitchen, igniting his lightsaber and slicing the lock off the cupboard under the stairs.

Vernon looked furious when he came out and saw the damage, but before he could say anything, Andrew ripped the door open and said "Bill me!" bitingly.

As Harry got his school things from the cupboard, Andrew rounded on his Uncle.

"You and Harry had a deal, he has held up his end of the bargain," Andrew held the tip of his blade towards Vernon's throat, "it's now time for you to do the same." Harry's permission slip flew into Andrew's hand.

"Sign it! And I'll allow you to keep all your limbs intact." Andrew ordered.

Petunia had come out of the kitchen, where Marge was shouting about the indignity of Andrew's onslaught.

"Quiet, bitch! You've said enough for one night!" Andrew bellowed, Petunia saw the situation was quickly turning for the worse again and snatched the permission slip from Andrew's hand. She quickly read through it, then wrote her name, ticked 'legal guardian' and signed it.

"Thank you, Mrs Dursley," Andrew said through gritted teeth as his own belongings slid noisily down the stairs, he deactivated his lightsaber, grabbed his bags and the two boys then left with the slamming of the front door.

"Chances are I'm not going to be welcome there again, sorry Harry."

"It's her fault, I'd dread to think what could've happened if you'd not been there." Harry answered.

The two of them kept walking, unsure of where to go, but certain that they wanted to get as far from Privet Drive as they could.

"You grabbed your lightsaber, right?" Andrew asked, Harry nodded. "Then why do I get the feeling we've forgotten something?"

"I don't know, did you grab your robes?" Andrew stopped dead at Harry's words, realising he was right, and his holo-com was in the pocket.

"No I didn't," Andrew told Harry calmly. "And my communicator is in the pocket."

With that said, he hoisted his duffel bag higher onto his shoulder and grabbed Hedwig's cage, leaving Harry free to haul his trunk.

"Shouldn't we go back and get it?" Harry asked, struggling to keep up with Andrew's furious pace.

"We should, but I'm not going to," he answered stubbornly. "We'll just find a payphone and make a call to the Temple Switchboard, they'll tell Master Cooper where we are and he'll come and pick us up."

"Slight problem there, I've no Muggle money," Harry said, causing Andrew to stop dead in his tracks.

"Then I know a few numbers we can call, they'll call the Temple on collect," Andrew answered as he went to set off again.

"But what if he's busy?" Harry asked as he slumped onto a wall in Magnolia Crescent, exhausted. Hearing him sigh, Andrew stopped and turned around.

"I know my Master, if he finds out I'm stranded, he'll drop everything to come and find me." Andrew answered, sitting down next to him "We'll just be making it easy for him to find us by staying put."

Andrew was about to ask where the nearest payphone was when the two boys heard something, Harry immediately opened his trunk and grabbed his wand on instinct. Andrew, however, ignited his lightsaber, looking left and right to check for Muggles.

"Lumos," Harry muttered, lighting the tip of his wand, revealing a huge black dog almost directly in front of them, Harry cried in alarm and stumbled back, tripping over his trunk and landing in the road.

The dog ran off and out of nowhere, with a deafening BANG, a purple, triple-decker bus pulled to a stop in front of them, on the side, emblazoned in gold letters, were the words "The Knight Bus".

Andrew, thinking that perhaps he was losing his mind, grabbed Harry and hauled him to his feet, just as a conductor in a purple uniform leapt off the bus and started reading from a card in his hand.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we'll can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve-"

He cut himself off when he heard Andrew deactivate his lightsaber. "What the 'eck is that?" he asked, pointing to Andrew's weapon as he clipped it back on his belt.

"It's a lightsaber." Andrew answered, when Stan gave him a funny look, he got a little defensive. "What? You never seen a Jedi?"

Suddenly Stan understood. "Oh right, 'ang about, how come you can see this bus?"

"I'm also a student at Hogwarts," Andrew was beginning to think this guy was totally brainless.

Harry was just about to turn around and look for the dog when Andrew said, "(Forget it, it ran off already,)"

"Woss your names?" Stan asked.

"I'm Andrew, and this is Harry," Andrew answered, not sure what business it was of his.

"This bus," Harry started, getting an idea, "did you say it goes anywhere?"

"Yep," Stan answered, puffing out his chest "anywhere you like, long's it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. 'Ere," he said, looking suspicious "you did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and, dincha?"

"By accident," Andrew answered, "didn't know this thing existed to be honest, but you might just be the answer to our problem."

Stan looked confused again until Harry asked how much it was for two to London. "Eleven Sickles each," he answered "but for fir'een you get 'ot chocolate, and for fif'een you get an 'ot-water bottle an' a toofbrush in the colour of your choice."

Harry rummaged through his trunk, found twenty six sickles, Andrew just asked for the travel, and then he and Stan got his belongings onboard. There were no seats, just a collection of brass bedsteads next to the windows, a candle burned in a bracket beside each bed, lighting up the wooden panels that lined the interior.

Stan placed Harry and Andrew in opposite beds right behind the driver, who's name was Ernie Prang, he was an elderly gentleman with rather thick glasses, he nodded at the two boys before Stan said "Take 'er away Ern!" as he sat in an armchair identical to Ernie's, in what would have been a passenger seat if they were in a car.

There was another tremendous BANG and Harry was flung violently back into his pillow, he'd been smart enough to put his feet up on his mattress. Andrew wasn't so fortunate, he'd been hurled to the floor and slid right to the back of the bus, his face squeaking along the polished floor.

"This is where we was before you flagged us down," Stan said cheerfully as Andrew got to his feet and struggled back to his bed, where he all but dived to make sure he was laid safely on it.

"Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?" Stan asked his co-worker.

"Ar," Ernie answered.

Between the noise of the engine, the loud BANGS and Ernie's erratic driving, Andrew and Harry were amazed that Muggles didn't hear this bus all the time. When Harry asked Stan about it, he was told that Muggles don't listen or look properly.

"Mind you, sometimes we pass the odd Jedi who I fink notices we drove right passed."

"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan," Ernie said, "we'll be in Abergavenny in a minute."

Stan passed the boys beds, Andrew just noticing out of the windscreen that anything Ern might hit literally leapt out of the bus' way, then back into place once they had passed.

"You know," Andrew muttered to Harry. "I dread to think what'll happen if we get too close to another vehicle."

"I know what you mean!" Harry hissed back.

Stan came back down the stairs with who could only be Madam Marsh, Ernie slammed on the brakes and all the beds slid a good foot towards the front of the bus. Andrew distinctly heard a snore and looked incredulously at a man near the back of the bus who was sound asleep.

After setting off again, Madam Marsh being off the bus now, Stan calmly took out his copy of today's Daily Prophet, the front cover completely taken up by the story of a man having broken out of prison.

"He's been on the Muggle news," Harry said aloud, catching Stan's attention. Stan then told them both about how he had escaped from Azkaban, something no one in history had ever managed. The story in the paper told of how he was sentenced to life in prison for murdering thirteen people with a single curse.

"Wow," Andrew whistled in awe, "even the Sith would be envious!"

Stan swivelled around in his chair to better look at the boys "Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-Oo" he told them.

"Who, Voldemort?" Harry asked.

Stan swerved the steering wheel so hard a whole farmhouse had to jump out of the way.

"You outta your tree?" yelped Stan. "'Choo say 'is name for?"

"What's wrong with it?" Andrew asked, gradually getting annoyed with people on this matter, Stan looked at him like he was insane. "It's just a French word," when Harry and Stan both turned to stare at him he explained "Vol-de-Mort," he said, sounding out each syllable "is French for 'flight of death'."

"Besides, fearing his name just makes him more scary," Harry added.

After calming down a little, Stan explained that once 'Arry Potter', causing Harry to cover his scar, took down Voldemort, all of his followers were rounded up, and when they got to Black, he blew half a street apart, killing one wizard and twelve Muggles.

"An' you know what Black did then?" Stan asked in a dramatic whisper.

"What?" the boys asked in unison.

"Laughed," answered Stan, "jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry o' Magic got there, 'e went wiv 'em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is 'ead off."

"Sounds like he's lost it," Andrew commented, causing Stan to nod.

"If he weren't mad when he went to Azkaban, he will be now," said Ernie in his slow voice. "I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place."

They soon lapsed into silence, once the Azkaban guards came up in the conversation, and the bus continued to roll its way through the night.

After a while, Andrew had a thought. "Hey Stan?"

"Hmm?" Stan grunted.

"Forgive me for asking this, I'm a Muggle-born." Andrew started, and Stan turned around in his seat. "You said this bus can go anywhere on land?"

Stan nodded "'S right."

"So does that mean it could go to, say, France?"

"Oh no, 'cause that's across water, see? Other cuntries 'ave 'dere own servis like 'dis one, but we can take you sumplace where you can get overseas," Stan explained, before getting up to wake up another passenger who was getting off.

"Hmm, interesting." Andrew mused as his bed slid forward under the bus' brakes.

Eventually the bus emptied out and the two boys were the only ones onboard.

"So, where to in London?" Stan asked.

"Can you take us to the Jedi Temple?" Andrew asked hopefully.

"Sorry, no. Too many Jedi there, they'll notice us," Ernie answered apologetically.

"Diagon Alley then?" Harry asked.

"Righto, 'old tight, then" answered Stan as they shot off again.

"We can walk to the Temple from the Leaky Cauldron," Andrew suggested.

"I'd book a room for the night," Stan suggested.

"The Leaky Cauldron is an Inn?" Harry asked, both of them were surprised since they had only ever passed through to go and do their shopping.

"Sure it is, don' you know nuffink?" Stan asked them "Oh wait, sorry, you're Muggle-borns, probly only ever go there to get yer school stuff right?"

They nodded and he continued "Well, save yerselves walking around London in the dead o' night and get a room,"

"Sounds like a plan, we stop the night and I'll run to the Temple in the morning, borrow a car and come to fetch you and bring you back, we'll be there before lunch at the latest."

Harry agreed with the plan and the bus pulled up.

The two boys and Stan got their belongings off the bus, just as the Minister for Magic announced that he was right behind them.

"Oh crud, I knew I should have made you use your lightsaber," Andrew exclaimed, literally kicking himself.

"Oh not to worry boys, you're not in trouble," Fudge said gently. "You're not exactly the first boys to 'run away from home' as it were, you're also not the first to do so and use magic out of fear."

"So … we're not in trouble?" Harry asked, suddenly worried that he would be expelled.

"No, not in the least, come inside and we'll discus everything, would you gentlemen be so kind as to bring the boys things in. The landlord has already set up a room for them, he'll show you where." Fudge said to Stan and Ernie, giving them a large tip.

"Oh you found him Minister, oh pardon me Young Sir, them." Tom the landlord said as they came into the light of his lamp. "Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?"

"Just a pot of tea I think," said Fudge as he steered Harry and Andrew inside.

"Mint for me please, if you have it." Andrew added.

Fudge marched the boys to a private parlour, while Tom showed Stan and Ernie where to put the trunk, cage and duffel bag.

Once inside, Fudge asked Harry to sit while he took the only other chair, shrugging, Andrew pulled out his wand from his lightsaber hilt and pointed it at the chair Harry was gestured to.

"Duplicus," he said, creating a perfect duplicate.

"Ah, now I remember you!" Fudge said excitedly. "Yes, a most fascinating piece of work that spell. Have you heard back from the Committee of Experimental Charms yet?"

"No, not yet." Andrew answered. "Why, have you heard something by chance?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, but they should be writing to you soon, for now we have other business," Fudge motioned for them both to sit.

"Now, just to get introductions out of the way," Fudge started, having removed his cloak and sat down as well. "I am Cornelius Fudge. The Minister for Magic."

"World-wide, or just the United Kingdom?" Andrew asked curiously, skipping over the fact that he and Harry had seen the Minister in Hagrid's hut during their last term, the man had come to arrest the gamekeeper on suspicion of him attacking students.

"Just our nation, for every political leader in the Muggle world, there is a Wizarding world counterpart." Fudge explained.

"Ah, so the Americans have a President for Magic, for example." Andrew added.

"Yes, exactly."

Just then, Tom came in with a tray, bearing on it two tea pots, three cups, a bowl of sugar, milk and a plate of fresh crumpets.

Andrew used the Force to serve his own tea while Fudge poured out his own and Harry's teas.

"Well, Harry, you've had us all in quite a flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's house like that!" Fudge was about to say more, but Andrew interrupted.

"I'm afraid that was my fault, Sir," he said. "I was on the verge of completely losing my temper, and I wasn't about to storm out and leave Harry to deal with the verbal abuse he was getting."

"Oh I perfectly understand, I just thank heaven that you both caught the Knight Bus when you did," Fudge replied, buttering himself a crumpet and pushing the plate towards the two boys. "Come along boys, eat up, you both look dead on your feet."

Andrew and Harry looked at each other.

"Ah you're worried about Harry's Aunt and Uncle, well suffice to say they're angry, but they are willing to take you back next summer, Harry, provided that you stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas and Easter holidays." Fudge explained.

"I always stay at Hogwarts over the holidays, and I don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive." Harry answered.

"Hang on a moment," Andrew interjected. "Did we do something to cause the Ministry to have to come out to Privet Drive?"

"No, however, with the Trace being on the two of you, we did detect a rise in magic, which seemed close to bursting point. When we then detected the two of you leaving, well with Black on the loose," Fudge said calmingly, pausing for a moment. "Well suffice to say we thought it prudent to investigate what happened to cause what was nearly underage magic and make sure you were both safe."

"And Harry, I'm sure you'll feel differently once you calm down." he added, looking at Harry. "They are your family after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each other … very deep down."

Andrew chuckled at that. "I take it I'm banned from their house."

Fudge nodded before continuing. "Now all that remains," he said while buttering a second crumpet. "Is to decide where you will spend the remaining two weeks of your summer holidays."

"The original plan was for us to go back to the Jedi Temple," Andrew supplied.

"Yes, well I would prefer if Harry stay here, it would save him travel time on getting his school supplies and it's quite close to King's Cross." answered Fudge, hoping the young Jedi would agree.

"If you like I can contact your Master later and explain everything."

Andrew considered this and then nodded.

After a quick discussion about Harry's permission slip, where Fudge said he would have to revoke it. "It was meant to be signed by your uncle, as he is the guardian in charge of the household." Fudge said as he shook their hands and left.

"(Something's fishy here,)" Andrew said to Harry.

"(Definitely,)" Harry answered as Tom led them up the stairs to their room.

"(That excuse about your permission slip was just too damned flimsy to be convincing,)" Andrew added as Tom stopped in front of a solid oak door with a brass number eleven.

They were both amazed to see that Hedwig and Snowfire were both in the room, waiting for them when they came in.

"That's two very smart owls you've got there," chuckled Tom. "They arrived about five minutes before you did. Well, if there's anything you need, Mr Potter, Mr Payne, don't hesitate to ask."

He gave them both a bow and left, the owls left their perch, on the wardrobe, and landed on their own master's shoulder.

Sadly though, it was the only room that hadn't already been booked, and it only had one bed. So Harry took the bed and Andrew made himself another hammock in the corner.

Harry sat on his bed, absent-mindedly stroking Hedwig's feathers while Snowfire flew back to the wardrobe.

"It's been a funny night Hedwig," Harry said.

"Too bloody right!" Andrew said with a yawn, Harry yawned too and they both decided on having a power nap.