Author's Note: Written for…
All You Need Is Love Competition. Family pairing: Aberforth and Ariana Dumbledore
Triwizard Tournament Competition. Character: Aberforth Dumbledore
Dumbledore Family Fic Challenge.
Important
Aberforth always knew he was strange – ever since he went off to Hogwarts and wrote a letter to his mother a week later begging to come home. Back then he'd just been homesick, but it had soon grown into more. He had trouble keeping up in class, and he missed Ariana. He knew how hard it was on their mother to take care of her all by herself.
He found himself looking forward to the summer, something that further separated him from Albus, who preferred to be at school than home.
Ariana never judged him for failing tests or not understanding his Transfiguration homework. She didn't get mad at him for how many detentions he received, or tsk when he'd answer that no, he hadn't made any friends at school.
They understood each other better than they should've been able to – but they'd always been the best of friends, since long before her accident. Ariana was sweet and carefree, and liked it when Aberforth would tell her stories. Aberforth liked her peacefulness; they ran on a slower clock than the rest of the world. Ariana listened to him when no one else would.
He hated having to keep her a secret. He knew why – Mother had explained all of that to him when he was seven – but that didn't mean he had to like it. And maybe that was why he didn't try too hard to make friends.
He pondered it on the train ride home. Albus had gone off to another compartment with all the other prefects and heads, leaving the fourth-year on his own with his thoughts. He couldn't understand how his brother could be so chatty when they weren't allowed to talk about the most important aspect of their lives. How do you call someone your friend but not tell them about your sister?
No one was waiting for them on the platform, of course. Coming all the way to London with Ariana would be too risky, so they made their own way to Godric's Hollow.
They were bombarded with hugs and greetings as soon as they walked in the door. Mother came for Albus; Ariana came for him.
He opted out of hearing Albus recount the tale of how wonderful his sixth year was, and instead pulled Ariana up to his room and let her quietly tell him all about the window box herbs she was helping their mother look after, and how the cat was doing, and how she'd missed going for walks with him in the moonlight.
"One day we'll be able to go for walks every night," he promised, brushing her auburn hair away from her face. She smiled brightly. "You're the most important thing in the world, Ari. You're my best friend."