Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter it is owned by JK Rowling

The Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Chapter 9

House Calls

As Neville headed back to his dorm Benjamin called Winnie to his side.

"Yes sir." The Elf said

"Are there any rules against teachers leaving the school during the week?"

"No sir"

"And if I visit the home addresses of a couple of students is it illegal for me to do so?"

The elf grimaced.

"I'll take that as a maybe, but I am willing to risk it. I will be back for dinner at the latest." Benjamin said as he headed to Hogsmeade so that he could apparate.

The next moment The DADA teacher was in front of Longbottom Manor. A small smile came to his face, it was just like Frank had described. The manor was strong and opposing made of white stone and with a closer look he saw various runes carved into the stone. Taking a breath he knocked on the door.

After some shuffling the form of Augusta Longbottom answered the door.

"What can I do for you?" She asked

"Hello Lady Longbottom, my name is Benjamin Voss and I am the new DADA Professor, and there was an incident with your grandson Neville this afternoon." The Professor said and noticed the worry in her eyes, but there was also a bit anger and annoyance.

"Is he okay?" Augusta asked

"He is fine, but your grandson is a very nervous young man. My question is what did you do to him?"

Augusta's eyes narrowed in anger and she nearly drew he wand, "How dare you suggest I would assault my own flush and blood." She spat.

"You do not have to beat a child to harm them." Was his curt reply.

Lady Longbottom looked almost guilty for a moment before she simply led him inside. She led him to the main sitting that over the fire place was portrait of Frank and Alice holding a newly born Neville.

"Can I have the elf get you something to drink?"

"No, but please tell me why is your grandson so hard on himself?"

Augusta sighed as a House Elf appeared and poured something in a glass before disappearing again. "What you have to understand is that I expect great things from Neville the entire family does. So I pushed him, but he didn't show any signs of magic. His father didn't have that problem in fact-"

"So that is your reasoning for treating his son like a failure, because he isn't a clone of his father?" Benjamin said trying to keep the anger out of his voice but failing.

"What do you know about my Frank?" Augusta asked

"I know that if you continue treating his son like trash that when your time comes, and you arrive in the afterlife, he will never forgive you."

Lady Longbottom narrowed her eyes for a moment until she remembered, "Voss the Slytherin, my son talked about you. He was devastated when you stopped being his friend."

"I never stopped being his friend. I simply saw the way the winds were blowing and knew it was safer for the both of us to not be seen together. I did hunt the Death Eaters that cursed them. For two days I didn't eat or sleep, and I was mere minutes behind the aurors. If I had arrived first they be dead not rotting in prison," Benjamin said. In the silence after his words he looked around his the noticed that there was one thing out of place. "Where is Frank's wand?"

"I gave it to Neville." Augusta said

Benjamin wanted smack the woman for her ignorance but he simply took a breath, "The boy needs his own wand. Frank's should be here in this house. I suggest you take Neville to get his own as soon as possible, so he can actually practice magic."

"Who are you tell me to go anything?" Augusta asked

Benjamin smirked, "I'm no one. Good day Lady Longbottom."

"Hold one moment Mr. Voss" Augusta waved her wand and a picture frame came flying into his hand. "I believe Frank would like you to have that." She said handing said him the photo.

The photo was a first year him and Frank smiling and chasing each other outside in the court yard.

"Thank you Lady Longbottom." Benjamin with a small smile as with a flash he vanished.

With another a small pop the Professor arrived in a higher middle class English neighborhood. Looking down quickly he noticed his state of dress and quickly changed his robes into a dark blue blazer and matching pants. Walking to a house he knocked on the door and a woman answered.

"Hello are you Emma Granger?" The woman nodded. "My name is Benjamin Voss a Professor at your daughter's school, don't worry nothing is wrong I was just wondering if could speak with you and perhaps your husband for a few minutes?"

Emma nodded and let the man enter her home as she called for her husband George to come downstairs. After shaking the man's hand Benjamin took a seat across from the parents.

"First off I would like to say that your daughter is one the smartest young women I have ever seen, but has some trouble adjusting but I believe I was able to help her make the adjustment easier. My question is more about what you. Were told about our world."

The husband and wife looked at each other.

"For example were you told that we had a Blood War about 2 decades ago?" The reaction he got were two pairs of wide eyes. "Okay this is going to take some time." For the next hour Benjamin told them about the war at between the Dark Lord and the rest of Magical Britain.

At the end of it Mr, Granger had a frown on his face, "Why weren't we told about this by that McGonagall woman?

"I'm sure my colleague met no disrespect by not telling you. For much of the magical world the war is long over, but for some us it never ended." He said

"What if we pull Hermione from the school?" Emma asked

"Her wand will be snapped, her magic bound, and your memories will be wiped." Benjamin said quite frankly.

"That's barbaric!" Emma yelled.

"Maybe but it is how we protect ourselves from outside threats, granted most magical people don't know that you muggles have bombs that can wipe us out in a mill second."

George Granger raised an eyebrow, "Why do you know that?"

Benjamin shrugged, "I got bored one summer and spent some time in Muggle London. But the point is having your daughter drop is not the best option. The fact is we need people like her, Smart, and outgoing. She could even help change the system. The magical world is small, and as long as the Pure Bloods have their way it will keeping getting smaller. We need new blood to keep on our kind alive. But most Pure and Half Bloods can't or refuse to see the reality in front of them."

"That is too much pressure to put on a young girl." Emma said

"That is why I'm talking to you instead. In the end it is your choice because she is your daughter. But I hope you think it through and send an owl to myself or Professor McGonagall with any questions." He looked around the home, "Is that a focal point to your home?"

"The fire place. Why?" George asked

Benjamin got up and the inside of the fireplace wrote a rune. "There is a rule outlawing children from doing magic at home. For people raised in Magical families the rule is meaningless because there is no way that our government can tell whose magical signature did said magic. In a home such as yours with only one magical user it is quite easy, and I don't find it fair that you can't see what your daughter has been working on. Basically I blocked the magical signature that would come out of this house."

"Thank you" Emma said

"It is not a problem. Whatever happens I wish you a good evening." Benjamin said

"You told us you were Pure Blood correct, do you believe in the same things as the others?"

"At one time I did, but on the summer I took to Muggle England I spent an entire afternoon riding you subway. It was then I finally put two and two together realized that we are more the same then we are different. But it not wizards and witches that you should be afraid of. It us who should be afraid of you. There is no spell that I know of that can stop an atomic bomb. If our two sides went to war, hell it wouldn't even be a war it would be a massacre. You have the weapons and numbers. In the end my people are simply odd balls dressed in robes that wave pieces of wood around. Deep down even the Pure Bloods know this to be true, and they use this fear to hold onto the power they have. It is the truth though that this fear will always be there, so in order to grow as a people that fear must be pushed aside or it must be used in a way that allows for a greater understanding between Magicals and Muggles."

"Are you in politics?" Emma asked

"No my house has actually little power."

"How unfortunate because to seem to be one of few wizards with that has thought things through." George said

"You have my word I will look out for your daughter." Benjamin said as got up from his seat

He shook the parent's hands and left the home and after finding a empty back yard he apparated to Hogsmeade. As he made his way to his quarters he took the picture that Augusta had given him and placed on his desk. On the desk was plate with a sandwich. Thank you Winnie. He thought as he took a bite.

As he finished his dinner there was knock on his door.

"Enter" He said It was Minerva McGonagall who entered. "Professor to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I got an owl from Augusta Longbottom this evening. Asking permission to take Mister Longbottom wand shopping. She also mentioned you visited her this afternoon."

"I did, and I told her about Neville's accident with the broom, and you should also expect a letter from Ms. Granger's parents as well. They may have decided to take her out of school."

"Why on earth would they do that?"
"Because I told them the truth, how she would be treated like a third class citizen and struggles she would face. Something you should have done when you told her about her magic."

"I didn't what the young girl to be disillusioned-"

"She should have known she was facing an uphill battle. Our world is wonderful, but it has it problems, and people like her that have new ideas can help change it. But they have to know what they are up against first." He sighed. "I know that because these students are Lions you feel that I am stepping on your toes. For that I apologize, but I will help any student that I feel needs it, house colors don't matter. That's my job isn't?"

"Yes, Yes it is." McGonagall said

"Then please Professor let me do my job, Have a good evening." Benjamin said

Knowing a dismal when she heard one the Deputy Headmistress left the office.

Flitwick was grading papers when Minerva entered and nearly slumped into the chair across from him.

"Filius talking to your apprentice is unnerving."

Filius smirked, "Because he could answer all your questions before you asked, and also because he got the last word. It is how he survives Minerva." All he got in response was a raised eyebrow. Filius sighed, "The man is broken Minerva, he was broken long before he came to Hogwarts. The truth is I simply saw the pieces left and tried to make a half decent person out of them. But back to Benjamin's talent, yes Minerva that is how the young survives by knowing all the questions and all the answers. The young man seems to always have a plan."

"He seems like a decent teacher though." McGonagall said

"Yes the students seem to like him." Flitwick said

With that the two Professors sat in silence before Filius went back to grading papers.

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