Halloween Gift for Shadowycat
Gift for: shadowycat
From: manghahabi
Title: A Century After
Characters: Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore, Ariana Dumbledore
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be. Made for fun, not profit.
Summary: Aberforth has an unwanted visitor on Halloween night 1999.
Notes: Happy Halloween, shadowycat!
starduchess, as always, thank you so much for fishing out the words I'd wanted to say and making this once confusing drabble the best it could be.
Albus had found a way to manipulate him, even after death, and on the night Aberforth held sacred, too. Ariana's pleading looks for weeks didn't help. He was still steaming over it when he saw silhouettes in Ariana's portrait come closer. "The nerve ...."
"I wanted to see you," Albus turned his gaze to Ariana, "and apologize."
As if Albus hadn't been glad to be rid of Ariana, of them, at that time.
"I was extremely selfish -"
Aberforth wondered if portraits could still feel a punch. Instead, he made sure the bluebell candles for his father, mother, and sister burned steadily on the mantel. The one for Albus (Ariana's request) remained unlit.
"Please. Allow me to read a book before the night ends? Like our parents used to do." Albus pulled a book from his robes. "The tale of 'Grumble the Grubby Goat'."
Aberforth's favourite. Had Albus requested what he termed 'absolute rubbish' to be painted into his portrait?
And they're suddenly back at Mould-on-the-Wold ... a century melting away.
===
"The end."
Ariana smiled sweetly.
Aberforth flicked his wand, igniting a new spark. He watched the two disappear into the background while four tiny flames flickered blue in the dark.