CHAPTER FIVE: PROFESSOR BYRON FEDERICO BRODSKY
~~~~~September 1st, 1996. Hogwarts.~~~~~
"Who, Hermione? Who is he?" Harry frantically asked.
She broke eye contact with the man and turned to Harry, leaning in with a worried look she whispered, "The man from my dreams."
"The one you told me about that first night at Grimmauld?" Hermione nodded. Harry turned back around to look at Professor Brodsky. He shook his head and turned back to Hermione. "Are you sure?"
"Harry I've been seeing that face since I was about five, okay? I think I'd recognise it."
"I just don't understand how he could be here."
"Neither can I!" She was really starting to panic. Everyone else in the Hall was getting up and leaving but Hermione was too frantic to notice. "Who is he? And why the hell has he been in my dreams?"
"Calm down, Mione, we'll find out. I promise. We're going to start with you going back to the common room with Ginny and calming down."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to go and see Dumbledore and find out what he can tell me." Harry told her and then pretty much handed her to Ginny who was waiting near by. Ginny gave him a questioning look and Harry just said, "Don't even ask. Just get her back to the common room and make sure she keeps her cool."
Ginny nodded and led Hermione away while Harry headed to Dumbledores office. Once he got there it took him about five minutes just to geuss the password. He bolted up the steps and banged on Dumbledores door.
After hearing a soft "come in" Harry opened the door and strode in as fast as he could. Dumbledore looked up at him, curious. "Harry, what brings you here?"
"It's about the new Defence teacher, Sir."
"Professor Brodsky? What about him?"
"I need to know everything you know about him, Sir."
Dumbledore was completely confused by this, "Why on earth would that be, Harry?"
"Well, Sir, it's Hermione." Harry had started pacing so he missed Dumbledores shocked face and raised eyebrow. "It's these dreams that she's been having since she was little. Professor Brodsky was in them, Sir."
"Describe these dreams to me, Harry."
Harry went on and told Dumbledore everything that Hermione had told him about the unusual recurring dreams that she'd been having for years.
Dumbledore sighed, "Harry if I could tell you, I would, but I cannot."
"Why not?"
"Do you remember when I told you I would tell you anything?"
"Yes."
"So you remember that I also said I would tell you only when that was not betraying anothers trust?"
Harry realized what Dumbledore was saying and sat down heavily in the chair in front of the Headmaster. "Yes, Sir."
"Harry, I am glad that Hermione is not here with you right now as what I have just said will only pique her curiousity. You must go back tonight and tell her I knew nothing of interest. You musn't let her know that anything is happening."
"I'm not able to keep anything from her, Sir. She always knows." Harry admitted.
"I understand Harry, but this is something that has the potential to hurt her greatly if the timing is not right. And besides I haven't told you anything really."
"Okay, Sir. But both she and I know that something is going on, she will be told, won't she?"
"Eventually, I believe she will."
"Can you at least tell me some things that have nothing to do with her dreams so I can at least tell her something?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Of course, Harry. Professor Byron Federico Brodsky is younger than he looks but he has had some very difficult years. His father was a muggle from the Czech Republic and he spent the beginning of his life in his fathers country, his mother is a remarkable woman, a very fine witch who hailed from right here in Scotland. When he came of age his mother brought him to Hogwarts, I believe he was a sixth year when your parents first started, much like yourself he was a Gryffindor.
"He was also a prefect and Head Boy. That was actually how he met his wife, she was a Ravenclaw and Head Girl, although they didn't get along until years after they'd graduated. She died a while ago however. And as I have said to you before Harry, I trust him with my life, and since I have hired him, my students lives. There's not much else I can tell you Harry."
Harry stood and walked to the door. "Thankyou Sir." He called to Dumbledore before leaving his office. He slowly made his way back to Gryffindor tower, thinking over what to say to Hermione. She and the new Professor were connected in some way, but he couldn't tell her that.
Walking through the portrait hole he saw Hermione on the couch staring into the flames. The rest of the room was empty except for Ginny who sat across from Hermione. Ginny stood up and walked over to Harry, Hermione seemed to not notice neither Harrys entrance nor Ginnys movement.
"What is going on? She hasn't said a word since we got here."
Harry looked over at Hermione. "It's.....complicated Ginny. Hermiones been having these strange dreams for years now and sometimes they're pretty frightening. Something at the feast scared her."
"That new professor?"
"How'd you know?"
"I saw the blood drain out of her face when she saw him. I pay attention to the little details Harry, that's how I know that you two are crazy about eachother."
"Do you mind if I talk to her alone?" Harry asked.
"No I was going to go to bed when you got back anyway. Goodnight." Ginny said and then left up the stairs to the girls dormitories.
Harry looked over at Hermione again. He hated not being able to tell her what he knew. Slowly he made his way over to her and sat down beside her. Still she did not anknowledge his presence. Very gently he put an arm around her and turned her to face him. She seemed shocked to see him.
"Who is he Harry?" She asked.
"There's not much I can tell you Hermione." Harry said and then went on to give her all the information he knew. "Dumbledore trusts him, Mione, so we should be able to as well."
"None of this tells me why he's in my dreams!" Hermione said, frustrated she stood and started pacing. She rounded on Harry and the moment she looked in his eyes he knew that she knew. "You're not telling me something. What are you hiding from me?"
Harry ran his hand through his hair nervously, "Mione - -"
"Harry! What the hell is going on here? I know you aren't saying something, I can read you like a book."
When Harry looked into her eyes he saw that she was angry, frustrated and more than a little scared. "Dumbledore asked me not to say anything." He said softly.
"So there is something strange happening?"
"Yes. I don't know what it is though, he wouldn't tell me."
Hermione sighed and sat back down. "This is too weird." Harry put his arm around her again and she leaned into his embrace. Both sat silently, simply enjoying the gentle touch of the other.
"You should get some sleep, Mione."
"What so I can dream of our new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher?"
"Umm, Mione - -" Harry started cheekily.
"Yeah, I know, that didn't sound right." Hermione broke a small smile.
"Come on." He said then stood and extended a hand. She took it and he helped her to stand, but didn't let go as he walked her to the girls stairs. Once there he softly kissed her on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, Mione."
"Goodnight, Harry." She turned up the stairs and with one last look back at him from the top she disappeared.
Harry was far too restless to get much sleep. His thoughts were filled with Hermione, the way her hair had looked in the firelight, how she had known so easily that he was not telling her everything, and mostly the look of worry that was in her eyes. This was a mystery that to be honest had them both a little weirded out. Who was this guy? And why was he in Hermiones dreams at night?
The next morning when Harry arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast, Hermione looked as if she'd had even less sleep than him. He sat down beside her and gave her arm a quick squeeze to show his understanding. She gave him an appreciative smile and turned back to her food, but not without stealing a glance up at the teachers table first.
"Did you dream much last night?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione gave an exhausted sigh. "When I slept, which wasn't much. It's just that the dreams were much more detailed. I could see he was in so much pain when the woman died. And there were others there too, I'm pretty sure they were death eaters. He laid down her body and the pain seemed to fade to what I can only describe as determination and then when he looked at the death eaters it turned to cold fury." She explained.
"Then what happened?"
"I don't know, he stood up, literally shaking with anger. And then I woke up."
"That's it?"
"That's all I can remember. I wish I knew more Harry, this is really pissing me off."
Harry was momentarily shocked by her language, but he pulled himself together and gave her hand a squeeze under the table. "We'll know when the time is right, Mione, that's something else Dumbledore said."
She nodded her head in a painful agreement to wait. McGonagall came by a few minutes later to hand out their class timetable. She stopped when she got to Harry, Hermione and Ron who had sat down just minutes before.
"Oh, by the way, Mr Weasley, Mr Potter, I had great difficulty choosing between the two of you. So much in fact that I bent the rules a little and chose you both." McGonagall said.
Harry looked at her confused. "Chose us both for what, Professor?"
"Our quidditch team required a captain, and I have chosen the two of you as co-captains."
Both Harry and Rons jaws dropped. Hermione turned to them with a smile, "Congratulations!"
"Does this mean my quidditch ban has been lifted?" Harry asked McGonagall.
McGonagall visibly grimaced at the reminder of Umbridge. "Do you honestly think that the Headmaster and I would let anything that woman came up with remain?"
"No, Professor."
McGonagall gave them a brief smile, handed them their timetables, and moved on. Harry leaned over the table and gave Ron a handshake. Ron grinned and said, "Bloody hell! I thought for sure it would be you, but both of us is bloody awesome! We'll have to hold tryouts."
"Yeah, we'll sort all that out. So what's on the agenda today, Mione?"
She read over her timetable. "We've got all doubles today, first charms, then potions, transfiguration, and.....and Defence."
"Will you be alright?" Harry asked, ignoring Rons confused look.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine." She quickly told him, but he knew she wasn't convinced herself. She turned to Ron and asked, "What are you doing while we do Potions?"
"Umm," He murmered while reading over his timetable, "Herbology."
"That's a good subject for you Ron. Come on, we should get to Charms." She told them then stood.
"You guys go, I'm gonna' squeeze in some more breakfast." Said Ron and then eagerly dug in.
Harry stood with Hermione and without even making a concious decision he picked up her bag as well as his own and slung them both over his shoulders, while Hermione gently warned Ron, "Just don't be late on the first day."
Harry and Hermione had a few minutes before class so they walked slowly to Professor Flitwick classroom. Harry reread his timetable and noticed something unusual.
"Hey, Mione, what's this?" He said showing her the timetable. A few lessons a week were marked 'Private Lessons'.
"I don't know. All my spare lessons are marked 'Spare'." She thought for a moment. "Hmm, perhaps you'll be recieving extra lessons."
"What for?"
"Well, trouble does seem to follow you Harry and Voldemort is trying to kill you every chance he gets, perhaps Dumbledore thought you need more training."
"Yeah, I geuss, I'll have to ask about it."
After a few moments of silent walking Hermione turned and talked to him.
"I can carry my own bag, Harry."
"I've got it. Really, Mione, I don't mind." He told her with a sincere smile when she gave him a strange glance.
"I'll be okay, Harry. And you've got too much to worry about already, without having me as well."
Harry stopped and grabbed her hand to stop her too. "Mione, I know that this has got you frustrated and angry, and I know also that you're a little scared about what it all might mean. You're not one of my worries, Mione. Anything I can do to make things easier for you, I'll do, whether you like it or not, because I care for you." Much more than you can imagine, he added in his mind only.
Tears were brimming on Hermiones eyes when she wrapped her arms around him. Harry rubbed her back while she whispered, "Thankyou Harry, you don't know how much this means to me."
He pulled back and wiped away a stray tear from her cheek, "Yeah, I do Mione. You're always there for me."
She nodded and took a deep breath. "Well, come on, we can't be late."
Charms, Potions and Transfiguration passed very slowly. For the first part of each lesson Professors Flitwick, Snape and McGonagall rambled on and on about how they were now NEWT students and their work load would increase, the topics would get tougher and stuff like that. The only difference in the lessons were the subject matter and the fact that Flitwick and McGonagall didn't make snide comments directed at Harry about how worthy he was of being in their class.
Harry once again carried Hermiones bag as they walked to the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom. Once the class had assembled outside of the room to await their new teacher, Harry took Hermione away from the group.
"Are you sure you're - -"
Hermione cut him off, "I'll be fine, Harry." She sighed and took his hand. "Just don't leave my side."
"Never." Harry whispered quietly.
"I think I'll just try to ignore it. I'll listen to what he says and that, but I think I'll just pretend it's someone else teaching us."
"That sounds like a good plan, Mione. We'll face this when we know what it is. And I meant what I just said, I'll never leave your side." He told her.
She closed her eyes and squeezed his hand. Harry watched Professor Brodsky walk towards the door of his room.
With a wave of his wand the doors opened. "Go on in, class." He said, his accent sounded European to Harry, maybe a touch of British. Brodsky eyes glanced at Harry and Hermione, who still had her eyes closed, and Harry could have sworn he saw a flicker of surprise in the Professors eyes when Brodsky spotted their joined hands.
Harry was still pondering what this could mean when Hermione dropped his hand and followed the rest of the class inside. Brodsky watched her intently as she entered and then turned to Harry. He moved towards him and held out his hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Potter."
Harry hesitantly shook his the older wizards hand. "It's good to meet you too, Sir."
The two entered the classroom and Harry took the seat to Hermiones right, since Ron was on her left. This suited Hermione fine, she felt safe with her boys on either side of her and it calmed her somewhat.
Professor Brodsky walked to the front of the room and turned to the class with what looked to be a forced smile. "Good afternoon class, I am Professor Brodsky. I will spare you the hour long speech about you being NEWT students now and all that as I am certain the teachers you've already had today have said quite enough. I will say this however, I do not accept anything below an E, therefore you must maintain that grade or you leave.
"I have read over your previous teachers notes and I must say that the woman is worthless." There were murmered agreements through the class. "You most definately need your wand for my class, as there will be little theory. You have probably noticed that there is more Defence Against The Dark Arts classes than any other classes. This is an attempt by Professor Dumbledore and myself to make up for Umbridges dismal failure.
"Now we'll get straight into it. Since I haven't much to go on, I would like you all to pair off as I would like to see what you already know."
The class stood and moved into pairs while Professor Brodsky waved his wand to transfigure the desks into mats. "Firstly, we'll do relatively basic spells. We'll start with stunners and shields. One partner will throw stunners while the other will sheild themselves. I will be observing so go for it."
Harry had paired with Hermione, while Ron had gone with Neville. He nominated himself to be the target since he wasn't sure that Hermione could hold a shield in her current state of mind. He did notice however that both her and Professor Brodsky seemed to both be trying really hard not to look at each other.
Harry was so wrapped up in his observations that he was barely able to mutter "Protego" before Hermiones "Stupefy!" hit him. He directed his attention back to her after blocking the spell.
"Pay attention, Harry." She told him.
Hermione threw stunner after stunner at him and he successfully sheilded them all. After Brodsky yelled, "Swap!" Harry moved closer to Hermione and asked, "Are you going to be able to hold a shield?"
"Harry I told you before that I'm fine."
Even after her reassurances Harry still made his spells as weak as he could and even missed on purpose a few times. By the time Professor Brodsky called for them to stop, both Ron and Neville had had to be enneverted a few times.
Brodsky turned to the class. "That's very good. You're all well trained in using both stunners and shields." They moved on to disarming spells and other basic defences, Brodsky observing how advanced the class was. And only a little while before the end of class Brodsky stopped them all and transfigured the desks back.
They all sat down while he spoke. "I see that you all have the basics covered. Some of you could use a little extra work, but that was very good. I understand from a reliable source that a few of you can perform the Patronus?" There were a few nodds. "Good. Next lesson that is what we will be starting on. You are all dismissed. Mr Potter, may I have a word?"
Hermione gave him a strange look before saying, "I'll wait outside for you." and leaving. Once the class was gone and the doors were closed, Harry moved back to the front of the room, in front of Professor Brodsky who sat at his desk.
"I understand that it was you who taught them how to do the Patroni." Brodsky started.
"Yes, Sir."
"This, Dumbledores Army, are you going to be continuing with it this year?"
Harry hadn't actually thought about that. "Well Sir, we started the DA because we didn't have a competent teacher. Now that we do, I don't think there is a need for it."
"You know as well as I do Mr Potter that there is indeed a need for it. Those students need to be as well prepared as possible for when the death eaters come for them and their families." Brodsky said darkly. "Of course it is your decision. If you choose to continue your Defence club then I will be quite supportive and help whenever needed, if you don't then that is fine."
"I'll need some time to think about it and see if the other students are still interested, Sir."
"That's all very well, Harry...may I call you Harry?"
"Of course, Sir."
"The reason I kept you back Harry is that the Headmaster has asked me to give you Occlumency lessons." Harry nodded at this. "I believe one lesson a week should suffice, I am much easier to learn from than Professor Snape is. When would you like them, I can easily adjust my schedule."
"Umm, well I found they were always tiring so I'd like to do them when I can get plenty of rest afterwards. Do you mind Friday nights?"
"Not at all. Friday nights after you've eaten, meet me here. I warn you though Potter, although I'm better than Severus, it will still be exhausting and disturbing. And we may be here for a couple of hours each night."
"I understand, Sir, is that all?"
"Not quite. You may have noticed on your timetable that you have lessons marked 'Private Studies' or something similar, where your classmates simply have theirs marked as 'Spare'."
"I was actually wondering about that, Sir."
"Professor Dumbledore has also asked me to teach you not only some very advanced magic, but also some hand-to-hand strategies and things like that. Those lessons marked 'Private Studies', you will meet me in the Room of Requirement and we will start. He hasn't told me why he believes you need this intense training, he said that it was your decision to make whether or not you told me. If you don't wish to tell me then that is fine, but it may help me to refine the perimeters of our work."
Harry looked around. "I will tell you on our first lesson, Sir, I don't wish to say anything here. And it'll be good to tell someone."
"Very well. Umm, by the way Harry....Miss Granger, can you......ah, never mind."
"Sir?"
"It's nothing. I expect we'll be seeing alot of eachother over the next year, Harry. You're dismissed."
"Thankyou, Professor." Harry said and then almost ran from the room. Outside he found Hermione and Ron waiting for him. They began walking to Gryffindor tower before anyone spoke.
"What took you so long?" Hermione asked.
"Well, first he asked if I was going to start up the DA again. I hadn't actually thought about it."
"Well, are you mate?"
"I don't know. Professor Brodsky reckons it would be a good idea, but we were only doing it because we didn't learn anything with Umbridge."
"I think it's a great idea. We do need all the experience we can get, especially with a war coming." Hermione expressed.
Harry cringed at the word 'war'. "Yeah, still I'll need to think about it."
"What else did he want?" Ron spoke.
"I have to restart my occlumency, but this time I'll be with him instead of Snape. Every Friday night after I've eaten I have to go to his office. And then he told me that those 'Private Studies' on my timetable were more meetings with him."
"What for?"
"He wants to teach me some extra advanced magic, since Voldemort keeps trying to kill me. He is also going to teach me some hand-to-hand combat." Harry explained.
There was silence for a minute until Hermione broke it. "Did you find out anything else about him?"
"No, I'm sorry Hermione."
"That's okay." Hermione mumbled as they entered the Gryffindor common room.
Ron had a confused look on his face, "What is this all about? You've both been acting weird."
"Harrys just been helping me out with something, Ron, it's nothing serious." Hermione told him, not really wanting to go into detail.
It seemed enough for Ron, since he nodded at her, shrugged at Harry and sat down. "When do you think we should hold try-outs, Harry?"
"We've got a bit of time, yet. I was thinking not this weekend, but next."
"Sounds good. Want a game of chess?"
"Nah, I think I'll follow Hermiones example and get todays homework out of the way."
Ron shook his head and then challenged a fourth year to a game, while Harry made his way over to the table Hermione had just sat down at. He pulled out his books and parchment.
"He did ask about you." He told her.
Hermione looked up, "What did he say?"
"Not much. He was going to ask a question about you but he changed his mind and shook it off by dismissing me." Harry explained.
"There's definitely something going on then. I mean if I know about him and he knows about me there has to be
something happening."
"We'll find out eventually, Mione, I'm sure of it." Harry assured her.
She smiled her thanks and both returned to their homework, Hermione helping Harry when he needed it.
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