Chapter Fifteen: Voices from the Stars

Star Wars + Harry Potter Crossover

A/N: Chap 14 review responses are in my forums like normal. Thanks for reading.

Chapter Fifteen: Voices from the Stars

Blasters don't kill people, Kyle Katarn kills people

"So, how's Earth?" Anakol Skywalker asked.

Or, the holographic image of him said. With Kyle's permission, Harry took their holocom transceiver out onto the grounds following the first snowfall and found a spot near the lake sheltered from the wind by a series of fallen or tilting monoliths.

"Cold," Harry said. "I have learned a lot about my native powers, though."

"So, like making goblets walk and HRDs suddenly alive?"

"Well, not just that," he said. "I can make goblets walk. I can even turn them into animals. By the way, is the HRD still…?"

"Human? No, everything went back after you and Master Katarn left. I've never seen a droid cry before. Nik's mom was so upset she had her memory wiped just so she could function."

Harry schooled his features. Having a droid's memory wiped was tantamount to killing everything about them. "So, any news on the Sith?"

The other padawan shrugged as eloquently as any Skywalker could. "If there was, Dad hasn't told me. We're back on Ossus. You know, your girlfriend's not doing too bad."

Harry frowned. "Oh, you mean Ansaki? You know she's not my girlfriend. At least, not like that."

"I'm teasing you, Potter, Force and Stars you need to lighten up," Kol laughed. "That's why having a master who's older than the Empire is a problem."

"Hey, Kyle's great!" Harry said with some heat.

Anakol grinned before nodding. "I know. A joke. To make you lighten up."

"Er, right. So, what's Ansaki doing?"

"She managed to take Ruukis in the salle."

"No!" Harry said, astounded. Ruukis was a Barabel padawan and a vicious one at that. "How?"

"Best of three strikes. She said it was because of dad, and I think she's right. Her old master had her stuck in Soresu form. Stupid, if you ask me. With her build and speed, Dad realized she was physically better suited to Form IV, you know, Ataru?"

"That's one of my favorite forms," Harry reminded his friend. "I scored my last points off you using it."

"Yeah, yeah." Kol waived off the reminder that he himself wasn't unbeatable. "Anyway, she's become really good at it. Dad said she should be ready for her final trials in a couple of years."

"That's awesome!" Harry said, enthused. "How's Nik?"

"Still trying to find a way to get his HRDs to take their clothes off," Kol laughed. "You know, the kid hasn't even had his nuts drop, and he's already acting like a sex fiend."

Harry felt his own cheeks burn. "Well, I'm sure he'll get plenty of opportunity when he's older."

The image of his friend shrugged. "Probably. So, any cute girls where you're at?"

His cheeks burned hotter. "There are a few. They're called witches here, at least the ones with power."

"Witches, eh, like Dathomir? So, got your eye on any?"

"No, I'm only going to be here for a year. Kyle says as soon as we have the tournament obligation done, we're leaving. They actually tried to take me away from him."

"Yeah, I bet that worked out well. Hey, I got to go. But before I do, I got a surprise for you."

"What?"

"You've been named an Imperial Knight and Count of the Empire. Nik says you have an estate and lands and everything. Pretty nice, eh?"

"What about you?"

"I'm an imperial cousin, I get all that anyway if I wanted it," Kol said. "You know, second cousin to the Empress Regent and all that. Nik and I are second cousins once removed. So, maybe if Kyle wants some place to retire again, you can go there. I want to say it's on Generis in the Atrivis Sector. Used to be a Republic world, but they lost it in the Vong War, and the Alliance never bothered to try getting it back. Supposed to be real pretty."

"Wow, I'll let Kyle know," Harry said, stunned by the news. However, before he could say anything else he felt a presence in the Force. "I've got company. It was good to talk to you, Kol."

"You too, Harry. See you soon."

The connection ended just as a figure hidden underneath a thick coat, woolen scarf and cap stepped around the rock. "Oh, it's you!" It sounded like Hermione Granger's voice from underneath the scarf. She looked with interest as he placed the holocom back in his own coat. "Who were you talking to?"

"Oh, just a friend," Harry said vaguely.

"And what language was that?"

"Canadian?" he said, guessing.

She stared back, flatly. "I wasn't trying to be funny, Harry. That wasn't English or French."

"So, not Canadian? I didn't study much about Canada. They don't have their own language?"

She continued to stare. "I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny, or if you're serious. The only reason I'm giving you any benefit of the doubt is that, from what I've seen, you have no sense of humor at all."

Harry blinked at that assessment. "I do too!"

"I've never even seen you smile."

Harry smiled. "See, I can smile."

"On demand." Hermione shrugged and then adjusted her scarf. "Well, regardless, I was actually looking for Neville. He wanted some help finding a particular mushroom that only blooms in snow by the water. Have you seen him by any chance?"

Harry hadn't, but with only a little concentration he could sense another presence nearby. "I think he might be down that way."

Peering in the direction he pointed, Hermione huffed. "I can't see a thing with this snow fall."

Only then did he realize that indeed snow had begun to fall again. "Well, come in, I'll show you," he said.

"You don't have to," she protested.

"But I do. I may not have a sense of humor, but I take obligations seriously. You've been very helpful to me, so I don't mind helping you." Harry opened his mouth to say more when he realized he sounded petulant. "I guess… Well, you're right about that, anyway. My friend Kol is always telling me to lighten up and have fun."

"Was that him you were speaking to? Do you have a telephone? I didn't think Muggle electronics worked on Hogwarts."

They started walking along the snowy banks of the lake, looking at the creeping ice. "Kyle has access to really good technology," he finally said.

For a long moment, the only sound was their footsteps crunching through the icy top-layer of the snow. Finally, unable to handle the silence, Hermione said, "So you're not a slave, then?"

"Not that I'm aware," Harry said. He too read the very brief article in the paper that simply said the inquiry found no actionable cause. "Kyle's my master only in the sense that I'm his apprentice. The Order I belong to does have an academy, but our style of magic is very personal. We go to classes to learn sciences and common subjects, but the magic itself is always taught one-on-one."

"That sounds marvelous," Hermione said, and he could tell she meant it. "I always hoped I would be able to apprentice with Professor McGonagall, but she told me that Hogwarts Professors are prohibited from taking on apprentices because they are all too busy."

In the distance a humped form began to take shape from the white-out, until they came upon a thoroughly bundled Neville Longbottom using his wand to charm large, dark-blue mushrooms out of the snow. "Hermione!" he said. His voice sounded abruptly loud in the quiet of the snowfall. "I was hoping you wouldn't get lost. And…who is that?"

"It's Harry," Hermione said. He tone was so dry Harry was surprised it didn't evaporate the snow. "He was speaking to his friend on some type of telephone in Canadian."

"Canadian?" Neville asked, wide-eyed. "They have their own language now? When did that happen?"

Hermione harrumphed. "Boys! Did you find all you needed?"

"Oh?" Neville blinked before looking down. "Oh, yes! A wonderful batch. Professor Sprout will be pleased. It is rather cold, though. I was going to go back before the snow got any thicker."

"That's a good idea," Harry said. "The visibility is actually getting worse."

The three of them started way from the edge of the lake. To his left, Harry could see the dark shadows of tall trees that marked the boundary of the forest. They were closer to the tree line than he had realized while speaking with Hermione. Perhaps that explained the uncomfortable tremor he felt in the Force.

The tremor suddenly became a clarion as a shadow lurched suddenly from the trees. Hermione squealed in surprise and Neville stumbled as a man fell directly into their path. Harry sensed pain and confusion as he rushed forward and knelt down by the figure. "My fault, all my fault!" the man blabbered.

Harry felt at the man's head and sensed he had a fever. His uncontrolled shivers were strong enough to border on convulsions. Despite the cold, all he wore was a pair of woolen slacks and a torn, blood-stained shirt.

"Hermione, a warming charm?" Harry asked.

She complied with ease. The shivering, however, didn't stop. The man's fever was advanced. "It's all my fault," the man continued. His face looked thin and emaciated, and dirty with a week's worth of beard.

"Wow, that's Barty Crouch!" Neville said.

"You mean from Halloween night?" Hermione asked. She looked again. "I think you're right, Neville. But how did he…?"

The surge of absolute peril that rang through the Force was the only thing that gave Harry the time to push Neville down and leap over Hermione as a streak of red light flashed through the air. Ignoring Hermione's cry, he rolled to his feet and ignited his lightsaber as a new figure approached.

The man claiming to be Mad Eye Moody stomped into view, his eye spinning wildly. His wand was in his hand as he approached. "Put whatever the hell that is away, Potter. I'm going to take Barty there to the Hospital Wing."

Even if he didn't know the man had a soul as dark as pitch, the story would have rung false. "You're remarkably well informed, Professor Moody," Harry said carefully. "We only just now found him."

"I said put that thin down," Moody snapped.

"No, I don't believe I will," Harry said. "Not until Kyle gets here."

"Boy, are you challenging me?" Moody stomped closer. "I've been fighting dark wizards me entire life. You think one snot-nosed little brat is going to stop me? You're so called master doesn't even know we're here."

Harry could see the man's body change as he realized what he was saying. Muscles bunched in his shoulders and his good foot splayed out slightly as he lashed his wand out. This time, Harry recognized the magic as a stunning spell and made no effort to protect Neville as it slammed him into the snow. "Neville!" Hermione wailed.

Though it was calculating of him, Harry thought to allow Moody to stun the two students to make it easier for Harry to act. But the sound of her anguish suddenly changed the equation for him, because with it came a sharp vision of her flying through the air because of a troll's club.

The second flash of magic was already moving toward her, faster than she could hope to dodge or shield. Without a second thought, Harry burst into motion and slapped the spell away with his lightsaber. "Get behind Crouch," he ordered her. She did so, pausing only to grab Neville and drag him with her. Harry remained between them at Moody.

"You're being a fool, Potter," Moody growled. "Stand down and I'll forget this ever happened."

"You stand down until Kyle arrives, and then you can explain it to him," Harry countered.

Another stunner, only this time Moody followed with almost a dozen other spells. The Force flowed through Harry's limbs as he deflected each. Although they flew straight, unlike blasters the magical spells simply dissipated against this blade. However, that alone was enough.

But just as he was beginning to think he could handle himself, the snow around his feet solidified and shot up as a sharpened stake. Harry bit back a cry as the point of it stabbed deeply into his calf muscle. The second spell had no light he could see, but he remembered it with bitter clarity.

"Crucio!" Moody snarled.

Pain seared through his veins. He could not have stopped his scream even if his life depended on it. His lightsaber fell from convulsing hands before he followed it into the snow. The cold did nothing to stop the agonizing heat of the pain cursing through his body. Despite feeling like an eternity, the curse lasted only a few seconds.

"I told you, Potter. You were being a fool." Moody negligently cast a stunner, but to both his and Harry's surprise, a blue Protego shield appeared in front of him. Hermione stumbled as she tried to move closer, and in so doing lost control of the protection, but it lasted long enough to absorb the stunner.

The man growled his irritation and flicked his wand to curse her when Harry lashed out with the one Force power he had never previously been able to use. White lightning flared from his fingertips, and with its passage through his body the pain evaporated. The blast struck Moody and sent him flying backward into the snow.

Before the man could recover, Harry summoned his lightsaber and leaped forward, intending at the least to destroy the wizard's wand. But he underestimated his opponent. Mid-air, Moody slashed his wand. It felt to Harry as if he'd been hit was a battering ram and he went somersaulting wildly through the air. He recovered just enough to land in a roll before jumping back to his feet.

Moody had moved again toward Hermione and Mr. Crouch. Desperately Harry tried Force-pulling the man's wand. Moody's whole arm jerked, but the wand didn't come. "Hah, I read about that trick, Potter," he said. "If Umbridge had been worth the name witch, she'd have put an anti-summing charm on her wand. Let's see if you did!"

Harry's lightsaber suddenly jerked out of his hand. Without hesitation, he gripped it with the Force and pulled it right back.

Moody grunted. "Not bad. No matter." He turned his wand, and with a word Hermione was screaming with the same agony Harry felt only moments before.

"No!" With a surge of Force speed Harry exploded into a leap, moving faster than even Moody could respond to. He spun in mid-air and struck the professor with a powerful side-kick to the head. He followed up with a slash of his saber that Moody just barely shielded against.

What followed was an exercise in delaying tactics. Harry attacked strongly, slipping into Form V despite it not being his strongest form, simply because it was unrelenting. The constant swings forced Moody onto the defensive, having to maintain his magical shield to deflect the lightning-fast swipes of Harry's lightsaber.

In the back of his mind, he could feel Kyle coming as fast as he could, but they were very far away from the campus, and as powerful as Kyle was, at over a century he was no longer a fast sprinter.

His delaying tactics came to a surprising end as Moody deflected a swing of his sword to one side with his shield charm and then punched him hard in the face. Harry stumbled back, more surprised than hurt, when another of those battering-ram spells struck him in the chest and sent him flying.

Harry landed in the snow a foot from the still gasping and sobbing Hermione. For the longest time he struggled to draw breath and began to panic when he could not.

"I'll give you this, boy, you put up a good fight." Moody himself was panting as he stomped through the thick snow toward the struggling Harry. He paused and strangely sipped from a canteen he pulled from one coat. "But it's not enough. Nice to have Longbottom here. Get to finish some old business."

"And what would that be?"

Harry finally sucked in a breath. "Master, watch out!"

But Kyle Katarn already had his lavender lightsaber burning as he walked toward them through the snow. "I was wondering when you would show your black heart, Moody. Is that even your real name? Dumbledore said you were a light wizard. He's too good to be caught in an outright lie, so there has to be a reason why your soul is so dark and twisted."

Moody didn't bother to respond. Instead, he lashed his wand and cast the pain spell.

Kyle responded with lightning, but it wasn't the white of Harry's. Kyle's power in the Force always bordered perilously close to the Dark Side. He knew himself well enough to no longer fear falling, but at times his power was Sith-like.

The power that struck Moody was much like the power the old Emperor, Darth Sideous, was famed for using. It was not just simple electricity. It was a telepathic and telekinetic thunderbolt that sent the disabled wizard flying back against the nearby boulders.

Kyle for his part grunted at the brief exposure of the torture curse but then shrugged it off as only a true master could. "Are you okay, Harry?"

"I tried to protect them, Kyle," Harry said, unable to hide the emotion in his voice. "But I failed. He cursed her."

"She's still alive, Harry," Kyle said. "You did well." The old Jedi continued past them toward Moody, who despite the sheer power of Kyle's attack was already stirring.

"You're a fool, Katarn!" Moody screamed at him. "Do you think you can protect him? Do you think you can even protect yourself! No one wants you here. You're nothing. You're nobody. Avada Kedavra!"

"No!" Hermione screamed in horror.

Kyle simply side-stepped the curse, reached out a hand, and made a fist. Moody lifted off the ground clutching desperately at his closed throat. "I'm not going to kill you just yet, Moody," Kyle said. "I want to know the full story first. But you put my padawan in danger. One way or another, you are going to pay for that crime."

The old Jedi jerked his arm. Moody flew toward him just in time to receive a powerful side-kick to his face. The ex-auror flipped once before coming face-down right into the snow. He did not move.

Kyle summoned the man's wand from the snow and snapped it before making his way to the three students. He knelt down to Neville and placed a hand on the boy's forehead. Neville jerked once before his eyes snapped open and he shouted in alarm.

Kyle ignored him before moving on to Hermione. "Can you walk?"

She wiped her nose with her scarf, but nodded. "I don't understand, why did Professor Moody attack us?"

"He wanted this man, would be my guess," Kyle said with a motion to the now unconscious Crouch. With a grunt at the effort, he pulled Crouch onto his shoulder. "Harry, I need you to levitate Moody with me back to the castle."

Harry nodded and fought back the lingering pain in his chest. However, rather than using the Force he searched for and found his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa," he intoned. Somehow, it took less concentration using magic than the Force, while working just as good.

"Well done, Harry," Hermione said. Her voice still sounded thick with her own lingering pain.

"I had good notes to work with."

The three of them carried their grim burdens through the snow to Hogwarts. As they approached the gate, Kyle said, "Miss Granger, Mister Longbottom, I'm think you should return directly to your dorm."

"Why?" Hermione asked. "We can give testimony!"

"Because it's dangerous, Hermione," Harry said. "I already got you cursed once. I don't want you and Neville to get hurt again."

"Harry, you didn't get me cursed. It was that…that…"

"Man who entered Harry into the tournament," Kyle finished for her. "Go back to your dorms, you two. For your own safety."

"Hermione, he's right," Neville said softly. He'd missed the entire fight, but saw the after effects well enough. "Wizards who use the Cruciatus curse are dark. We don't want to be anywhere near him when he wakes up."

Harry watched as a flurry of emotions flitted across the girl's face. "Oh fine," she muttered. She started to turn away before, without warning, she suddenly hugged Harry. "Thank you for saving me, Harry." She then kissed his cheek before moving on with Neville.

Harry reached up, too stunned to speak, and felt at his cheek. He then noticed Kyle staring at him.

"Oh please, like you have any room to talk," Harry muttered.

Kyle snorted. "Come on, let's get to the hospital wing."

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