AN: Just to make it clear, the parts in the wizarding world aren't at the same time as the story in the Star Wars universe. Didn't know if anyone thought that was the case but wanted to clear up the situation if anyone did.

Shadow of the Force

Chapter 14

-Marcus-

Panting slightly, Marcus kept running around the Black Lake, the crisp Saturday morning air filling his lungs as he continued his routine. A few other students were sitting around the lake, working on their assignments for the beginning of the new year or just relaxing for the nice Saturday. Seeing the tree that was his starting point, Marcus put on a bit of extra speed, managing to pass the spot as he finally began to slow down, turning his jog into a walk as he entered the cooldown portion of the routine.

"Augumenti." He gasped, pointing his wand at his face and letting the cool water drench over him. Shaking like a dog, Marcus began toweling off, remembering the discussion he had with Headmaster Dumbledore roughly a week after the term had started.

-Flashback-

"Headmaster." Marcus greeted stiffly as he entered the old man's office, Professor McGonagall departing now that he was dropped off. He wasn't sure what the Old wizard wanted or how to feel about the man.

"Marcus, or would you prefer Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore gestured to the comfortable looking chair in front of the desk, the question genuinely catching Marcus off guard.

"Um…Marcus?" the second year coughed and shook himself, "Marcus is fine."

"Marcus then." Dumbledore nodded, standing up to browse some shelves. "I've noticed your early morning runs." The old man pulled a book down and set it on a table.

"They don't break any rules sir." Marcus straightened his back, feeling slightly defensive as the old man sent him an amused look.

"I'm well aware," Dumbledore chuckled, "and relax, I didn't bring you here to punish you Marcus." Another book joined the pile. "Marcus, when you were an infant I made a grave mistake with how I handled the situation with your family." And so Dumbledore began telling him about an order of Witches and Wizards from around the world who fought against the forces of Dark Witches and Wizards. It had been founded by Helga Hufflepuff if Dumbledore was to be believed and Dumbledore had been inducted into the Order by Nicholas Flamell.

"So…why are you telling me this?" Marcus tilted his head in puzzlement as Dumbledore added a couple more books to the pile on the table.

"Because I'm trying something differently now." Dumbledore pulls down one last book and brings the pile over, "I'm looking for replacements to take my political positions and once Voldemort is gone I'll retire from Hogwarts to devote my time to Alchemic research. I doubt I'm the best to give advice on what to do," Dumbledore gave him a piercing look, "but I can give you resources and knowledge. These are some of the books from my private collection you can start with. If you finish those and need more, or want me to give you some extra lessons, just let me know." Dumbledore slid the spell tomes over as Marcus took them in a daze, returning to his dorm as he locked the books up in his trunk, making sure to set his security spells.

"That...wasn't what I expected." Marcus shook himself and went to go start his daily workout.

-End Flashback-

Marcus was halfway back to the castle when he heard the pounding of feet. He had barely gotten the chance to turn towards the sound before he heard a shout, "Stupefy!" throwing himself to the ground, Marcus rolled under the crimson spellfire as the students watching began screaming and panicking.

"Reducto!" Marcus shouted, blasting the ground, "Bombarda!" his second spell sent gravel flying towards his attackers. Coming to his feet, Marcus froze in shock at seeing the distinct red robes of the Aurors. Capitalizing on his shock, the aurors fired again as three stunning spells slammed hard into his chest, sending him flying back as his vision went black.

-Dumbledore-

"Cornelius!" Albus Dumbledore roared, his magic lashing out and blasting open the door to the Minister's office where the Minister and his undersecretary were looking over a report, "You dare?!"

"A-Albus?" Fudge squeaked as Umbridge turned puce, "W-w-what are you doing here?"

"You kidnapped one of my students." Dumbledore's wrath was palpable, his aura burning as the surface of the wooden desk and the wallpaper began to bubble and burn, turning a dead sickly black color.

"Marcus Potter was arrested for the crime of studying Dark Magic." Umbridge sneered.

"I wasn't talking to you bitch." Dumbledore snapped at her as Umbridge gaped in shock before the Headmaster turned back to Fudge, "He committed no crimes Cornelius."

"Look Albus, this is politics." Fudge gulped, "Everyone is in shock and angry at the Potters given what's happened. You should have kept Voldemort being back a secret but it's too late now. Everyone's scared and I need a win to keep office so I can fix this. You don't want to upheave the country worse, now do you?" Fudge tried to sound coaxing.

"Know this Cornelius." Dumbledore rose slowly, his aura fading away as his burning rage turned to cold precise fury "You've officially burnt any bridges you had with me. I…will…bury…you." Turning, he stormed out to go find some competent ministry workers to try and stop this, ignoring the whimpering of Fudge…and the smell of loosened bowels.

-Harry-

"Sir, we have a problem." The voice of Jarvis filled the medical bay as Harry and the rest of the group who were on the Death Star were being checked out.

"What sort of problem Jarvis?" Harry frowned, standing up as Oola continued to run tests on Galen.

"We've been bugged sir." The voice of the AI filled the room as a screen blipped to life to show him the status of the various systems on the Citadel. "It would seem that a tracker was placed upon First Mate Galen upon your exit from the Death Star. The tracking program then jumped from the chip that was placed upon Galen to the shuttle that brought him back to the Citadel and then to our systems. It has already relayed out destination back to its source."

"Damn it!" Galen shot to his feet, ignoring Oola's protests at this action and began pacing.

"I knew it was too easy." Harry grit his teeth, focusing his technopathy as he found the bug and destroyed it. He hadn't thought to check when they first got back, too focused on helping Galen and making sure they were getting away. His technopathy was incredible for helping him with anything technical but if he wasn't focusing, he wouldn't know about technology around him. It was the reason he hadn't sensed Vader's cybernetics or tried to scramble the man's armor, the less he knew about a certain system the harder it was to manipulate him. The more he got a grip on a piece of technology the more he could do. After all the time he spent in it he could likely control the Citadel with just his mind if he needed to, he would have to focus just to do anything with the Death Star and his range would be limited.

"Princess," he turned towards the recently liberated politician, "get to the bridge now! Send a warning to the rebels so they know what's coming. We'll need to either evacuate their base or prepare to fight back when the Death Star shows up looking for a fight."

"R-right." Leia, shaken at knowing they actually had been allowed to escape just to kill the rest of the rebels, follows Juno to the bridge.

Seeing Oola force Galen back down, Harry sent a passing thought as an alarm began blaring throughout the Citadel, putting every member of the crew on red alert that they would soon be in a battle. Every gun was being loaded, the fighters being prepared, and the shields checked. "May the Force be with us all."