Harry Potter and the Dark Lord of the Sith

Chapter 49.

While Threepio was narrating the story of the Rebellion to the Ewoks, Han, Leia, Luke, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Chewie, Jan, Artoo, and Mara gathered in the corner. "Mara," Harry began, "what do you know that you would only tell our commander?" he asked, pointing at Han.

Mara looked around. "Well, there are two things I found out while snooping in Palpatine's private files," she said as if that was something routine.

"Give us the good news the first," Han said.

"Neither item can be good news, I suppose. I could give you the better one. There's a legion of stormtroopers guarding the shield generator."

Everyone sat in silence, absorbing the information. Ron and Leia appeared especially distraught.

"You don't do things by half, do you, Jade?" Han finally spoke. "That was the better part? What's worse?"

Mara looked at him. "That Death Star up there--it's operational." Even deeper silence gripped the small group.

Jan glanced at her chrono. "We still can recall the fleet," she said. "But we only got a few hours." Harry thought about Hermione, who'd be going into a trap. It did seem too simple...

"Can we warn them?" he asked.

"No," Leia said. "We have only a short-burst recall signal. Even that's risky, but if we try anything more, they'll locate us here for sure."

"If it was just the extra troops, I'd recall," Han said quietly. "We might have gotten another chance."

"But that's the problem, right? It's not just the troops," Ron retorted.

"Right. So you know what we'll do?"

"What?" Ginny asked.

"We proceed," Han replied. "We get in there as fast as we can, and blow the thing before they can bring substantial reinforcements. And then we run off, and the Imps can waste their time chasing us through the woods while the fleet does its job."

This stunned everyone into silence once more. "Han, are you certain--" Leia began.

"As certain as ever, Princess. You know this is our only chance."

Mara shook her head. "You know, I used to think that the Rebellion was the biggest insane asylum in the galaxy."

"And now?" Harry asked her, a glint in his eyes.

"Now? Now I don't think so--I know that it is."

"You're judged by the company you keep," Luke told her. "So what does that make you?"

Mara looked at him. "I try not to think about that, Skywalker."

Han was about to say something when Threepio interrupted them. "Excellent. We are now part of the tribe."

"Just what I've always wanted," Han grumbled lightly as several Ewoks ran up to him and tried to hug his legs. Harry chuckled, and, freeing himself, led Ginny outside.

XXX

"Ginny," Harry said.

"Harry," she replied, stifling a laugh.

"I have to go."

"What?"

"Voldemort," he said. "He's nearby."

"So?" Ginny demanded. "You don't have to go after him."

"Actually, I do," he said.

"Why?"

"Because otherwise, he'll be able to do anything else. A legion of stormtroopers is bad enough. What if he shows up there tomorrow?"

"But why?"

"Because I am the only one who has a chance against him."

"There's more to it than that. There always is."

Harry closed his eyes. Ginny knows me too well.

"You know, we've spent months on the run from the Empire... right after Yavin. And after every escape, Leia would gather us all and give a speech."

"About what?"

"She never actually repeated herself, but the main theme was that, despite being on the run, we were not defeated, because we would fight again. The only way for the Empire to stop us from fighting was to kill us. And that, according to Leia, made them weak."

"And?"

"We could have, at almost any time, dispersed in the galaxy under assumed names, and lived out the rest of our lives in relative safety... as loyal Imperial subjects."

"Right."

"Exactly. There are times when you have to run. There are times when you need to hide. But there are times when you have to turn, and make a stand, whatever the cost." He gestured up to the sky and around. "The pilots and the fleet is doing that. Ron and Han and the rest of the team are doing that... Luke is doing that. And so must I."

"You don't think you have a choice?"

"I wish I didn't. That's what makes it so hard. That I do have choices. The same choices that I always had."

"You always had choices?" Ginny looked shocked.

"Yes. I already gave you one of them. Run. Run and hide. That was possible even back in our world... it's easier here."

"Go on."

"And I could always... join them."

"What?!"

"It's true. I could have turned to their ways for power. Both Voldemort and Palpatine offered that to me... The offers have been tempting. I still hear them in my mind."

Ginny reeled back in shock. "That's horrible..."

"I know. Believe me, I know."

Ginny signed. "You're not going to change your mind?"

"No." He squeezed her shoulders. "I can't."

"Then let me come with you."

"No. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to think about anything but protecting you if you're there. He'll use that, and kill both of us."

Tears streaked down Ginny's face. She stroked his hair. Wanting desperately to comfort her, and knowing he couldn't, he gently put his arm around her.

"You've changed," she whispered.

Harry knew she was right. "War does that to people. You're not the same either." Ginny buried her face in his chest. Harry held her close. "Say good-bye to Ron for me."

"You won't..."

"One goodbye is hard enough." He lifted her head up and gave her a warm, deep kiss. "I love you, Ginny."

"I love you, too. Come back, will you?"

He didn't want to give her a promise he might not be able to keep. He wanted to say he'd try, but Yoda's voice entered his mind... There is no try. He kissed her again, and then, with an enormous effort, let her go, and started walking. At the edge of the platform, he turned back. "May the Force be with you, Ginny," he said. He then turned and headed off into the forest.

"You too, Harry. You too," Ginny said to herself. But Harry heard her, and smiled. I'm doing this for you, Ginny.