CHAPTER SIX: PRIVATE STUDIES
~~~~~September 4th, 1996. Hogwarts.~~~~~
Harrys first lesson of training with Professor Brodsky was on Wednesday. He bid goodbye to Ron and Hermione as they went to the common room for their spare lesson and made his way to the Room of Requirement. Once inside he noticed the room wasn't set up for any training whatsoever. Instead it was a replica of the Gryffindor common room.
"I thought we'd just talk today, Harry." Brodsky said, standing from the chair he was in. "There are many things we need to discuss."
Harry walked over and sat down in a chair opposite Brodsky had just sat back in. "I suppose you want to know Dumbledores reasons."
"You do not have to tell me if you don't want to Harry, it is your business."
"No, I want to tell you. I mean, it'll help you to help me and like I said on Monday, it would be good to tell someone and get it off my chest." Brodsky nodded for Harry to proceed. "Well Sir, it's about a prophecy."
"The same prophecy by chance that you and your friends attempted to retrieve from the Department of Mysteries?"
"How did you know about that?"
"The Headmaster told me. I know alot about you and your friends, Harry. But I had thought that the prophecy was smashed?" Brodsky asked and then waved his wand to summon two cups of hot chocolate that appeared.
Harry spoke as he accepted the glass Brodsky passed him, "Thankyou. Well the prophecy that was held at the Ministry was only a recording. I was able to hear the actual prophecy through the use of a pensieve. Professor Dumbledore was the one who heard the original prophecy and he showed me what it said."
When Harry paused, Brodsky sensed his unease, "Harry you do not have to tell me the contents."
But it didn't seem like Harry had heard him. "It says; The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
The only sound for several minutes was the fire in front of them crackling. Then Brodsky sighed and whispered, "Such a heavy burden you are forced to carry."
"Those words have been burned on my memory since I first heard them."
"So you are the chosen one, Harry. I am sorry for this, such a bright young man who'll be forced to save us all. But I promise to do my best to have you as prepared as possible for this final confrontation." Brodsky swore.
Harry lifted his head to look at his professor. "Thankyou Sir, I appreciate it." Harry had found it strange that Brodsky had referred to him as 'the chosen one', but it wasn't so much the choice of words as it was the older wizards tone of voice when he said it that had made him curious. It was almost as if Brodsky had been waiting to meet 'the chosen one'.
Brodsky stood and walked about the room while he spoke. "It must be such a terrible thing to have the fate of the world on your young shoulders. This changes things. Harry I think we should meet for these lessons more than just the twice a week that has been scheduled. I don't wish to add more to your work load, but I feel it is necessary."
"I agree, Sir."
Brodsky walked back to his chair and sat down. "Good. Then perhaps in addition to the Wednesday and Friday morning lessons, Saturday and Monday nights." At Harrys nod he smiled slightly. "It's settled then. After you eat on those nights you will come here."
"Sounds good, Sir."
"Very well. Tell me, do you have any idea what this power is that Voldemort doesn't have?"
"The morning after the events at the Ministry Dumbledore had told me about a room in the Department of Mysteries. He said it contained a force that was more wonderful and more terrible than anything else."
"Ah, yes, I've heard of the room. It is said to be filled with some kind of emotion."
"Yeah. Dumbledore told me that it was what was in that room that I had lots of and Voldemort had none." Harry noticed that Brodsky didn't flinch at the name. "Then when I saw him before school started he told me it was love."
Brodsky didn't speak for a minute. Then, "Very well. That being the case we will focus on those emotions and see if we are able to direct them into your magic. But first we'll go over a short criteria of what you will be learning in these lessons. We will not only be studying advanced spells, charms and curses, but we will be working on your physical strength, your swordsmanship and wandless magic."
"But I can't do wandless magic."
"You have the potential, Harry. By the time I am finished with you it will be second nature. Now, with your spellwork we will focus on defensive magic and duelling techniques. We will work on your physical strength in the muggle way."
"What does that involve, Sir?"
"We will do a number of other exercises to build up your strength. The build up in stamina you will gain will also help with your magic fighting. As I'm sure you know magic duelling can be quite draining, therefore the more strength you have the longer you'll be able to fight."
"Yes, Sir."
Professor Brodsky continued, "Now, your swordsmanship. Have you ever used a sword before, Harry?"
"Well, once Sir, in my second year. It was during another fight with Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets. Fawkes appeared and dropped the Sorting Hat and Gryffindors sword appeared in it. I used it to kill the basilisk that was in the Chamber."
Brodskys eyebrows were high. "I'd heard stories about that. That is the only time you've used a sword?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Then that will need some work."
"Can you use a sword, Sir?"
"I can, Harry. We will have to find which make of sword is most suited to you. And of course you're wandless magic will take a great deal of our time. We'll start with methods on focusing your concentration." Brodsky said and then mumbled almost incoherently. "Of course I'll have to ask that greasy little slimeball for some of his potions."
Harry tried to smother the smile that was on his face when he heard Brodskys words. Brodsky continued as if he didn't notice that Harry had heard what he'd said. "And I'm assuming by the words of the prophecy that you'll have to kill Voldemort."
Harrys face dropped at that. "Yes, Sir." He said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Harry. But you know it must be done. Voldemort must be destroyed and it seems you must be the one to do it."
"I know that, Sir, but..." Harry trailed off.
Brodsky turned to him seriously. "Harry I would like for us to be friends and in the company of friends one does not have to hold anything back. If there's something you want to say that you don't feel comfortable saying anywhere else, know that you can say anything to me without any consequences. I'm here to listen if need be, it will actually be good for your training."
"Well, Sir, it's just that...I can't kill, Professor. I can't become like them, it would destroy me to take a life."
"Try not to think about Voldemort as a life, Harry, there is little of him that's still human, if any at all."
"I know. I know that he's a monster, he's a murderer, he deserves to die, but I don't know if I can do it. I was told that to perform the killing curse you needed to really mean it and I don't know if I can do that."
"We will work on other methods then. I could teach you how to do it but I do not wish to desensitize you in such a way when you have already lost so much."
"I still don't know if I can become like them." Harry murmered softly.
"You won't be like them, Harry." At Harrys curious look Brodsky asked, "Harry, what are you fighting for?"
"What am I fighting for?"
"Yes. What is it you hope to achieve by destroying Voldemort?"
"Well....for peace and freedom for everyone. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their lives. I want to be able to enjoy mine finally."
"I saw that you care for Miss Granger deeply."
Harry looked at Brodsky sideways and remembering what Brodsky had said about Harry being able to talk about anything asked, "Why do I get the feeling that bothers you a little?"
Brodskys eyes shot to Harry. He cleared his throat obviously taken off gaurd and began "Well, I...umm - -"
"Never mind, Sir. Yes I do care for her deeply. Why?"
"Are you in love with her?"
"I think so. If not I know I'd like the chance to fall in love with her."
"I know that you probably have trouble with this, Harry, but allow yourself to imagine your future. What do you see?"
Harry closed his eyes and tried to do what he'd been told. Professor Brodsky had been correct in his assumption. Harry very rarely allowed himself to think of his future. In fact he hadn't done it since he'd learned of the prophecy.
Now that he was doing it, even he was a little shocked by what he saw. "I see me....and Hermione. We're happy. The only thing we've got to worry about is.....our kids......getting themselves into trouble. We have lunch with the entire Weasley family at the Burrow every Sunday and not one of us has a care in the world."
Harry opened his eyes and looked at Brodsky, who was wearing a blank expression. "Wow." Harry breathed.
"Indeed. Now Harry, do you think there's a chance in the slightest that that future you dream of will be possible if the Dark Lord lives?"
"No."
"And what do you think will happen to Miss Granger and the Weasleys if he defeats you?"
"They'll all die."
"If they're lucky." Brodsky murmured.
Harry looked at him incredulously. "What do you mean?"
"In the Dark Lords eyes they are worthless. He doesn't care what happens to them, but they did openly defy him and I imagine if you were to die they would still defy him. And he does care that his death eaters are happy. Think about those death eaters. They enjoy torturing people. And I have been unfortunate enough to meet several death eaters, men who enjoy other things."
Harry paled at the implications. Brodsky was right. Harry didn't have a choice. No matter what he had to kill Lord Voldemort, even if he died himself doing it, he had to kill Riddle.
"A very wise man once said, 'The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.'" Brodsky said.
"Where have I heard that before?"
"Watch much science-fiction?"
"Not really, Sir, I don't get a chance to watch much television at all."
"Then don't worry. The point is, Harry, that sometimes to save millions of lives, one must be destroyed. Wouldn't you rather have everyone happy and carefree, enjoying the little pleasures in their lives; sleeping in a warm bed, waking up to the ones they love, watching their children grow. The alternative being hiding from the darkness, being tortured constantly, or having their greatest hope being allowed to simply die?"
"I understand, Sir." Harry told him with a determined voice.
"Good, my boy. As I said before, I am sorry for this burden Harry. Now we will wrap up our little chat. On Friday morning wear some workout clothes as we will be beginning on your physical training. Go and enjoy the rest of your spare time, your next lesson with me will not be as relaxing."
Both Brodsky and Harry stood. When Brodsky offered his hand Harry took it and said a grateful, "Thankyou, Professor."
Once Harry had left the room a calm, strong voice caused Brodsky to jump. "Very good, Byron. Getting Harry to realize what must be done, he must do, by making him think of the consequences."
Brodsky spun around to see Dumbledore calmly walking out of the shadows. "I had wondered why the room was already set up when I came in. I should have known you'd be here."
"Yes, you should have." Dumbledore said with a small smile. "Come, Byron, let us take a walk on this fine day."
Brodsky followed Dumbledore out of the Room of Requirement, down the stairs and through the entrance hall. Once out on the grounds, under the sunlight, Dumbledore spoke.
"I want to thank you, Byron, for taking the step to attempt to bond with Harry. He needs a strong male presence in his life right now, Remus isn't here and I do think I'm far too old to be it."
"He is a fine young man, Headmaster, with a terrible burden. I can see alot of his father in him, but I'm glad that he's got some of Lilys attributes."
"Indeed. What are your training plans?"
"Well, we are having four lessons a week now, and there are four subjects to cover, so I was thinking one a day. That way we can cover as much as possible in case we only have a short time to do so and Harry won't get bored too easily."
"Good, good."
Dumbledore watched silently as Brodsky pulled a crumpled packet of cigerettes out of his robe pocket, took out a single one and lit it with what looked like a very old lighter.
"Still smoking those filthy things, I see."
"They're about the only things keeping me sane these days. Things have got a lot tougher since I stopped with drinking. I never thought I'd miss the fire-whiskey so much."
"Addiction is a curse, Byron."
"I know." Brodsky said as he took a deep drag.
"I know it has been very hard for you since Clarices death, Byron, and I wanted to let you know that if you ever need to talk to someone who knows what you are going through, then you know where my office is. I am aware that your mother has been through it too and understands, but I thought if you ever needed to speak with another man then - -"
"I appreciate that, Headmaster, thankyou."
"Very well. I have some things to do, Byron. Enjoy your addiction, but please be careful to not let too many students see you, I would hate for you to have a bad influence on them."
Brodsky chuckled and turned to where Dumbledore had been standing moments before to find the place empty. He looked around but there wasn't a sign of the Headmaster. He chuckled some more mumbling, "I have to learn how to do that."
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