Chapter Twenty-Five - Flashback

The front door to the Dumbledore estate opened but neither of the two occupants in the kitchen noticed anything. Aberforth could hear nothing but shouting from the kitchen. His normally grumpy looking face was briefly showing concern and confusion. There hadn't been shouting in this house for many years. He approached the closed kitchen door, thinking that Albus would notice his presence immediately but he seemed to notice nothing. He moved his head closer to the door and listened before interrupting.

Rowena stormed to the other side of the kitchen, her arms crossed over her chest, her face etched in pure anger. Her light brown eyes shot to where Albus remained standing and she huffed out air sharply.

'I don't understand what you want from me,' she said, feigning innocence.

'I believe you do know,' said Albus softly. 'You weren't suspended from Durmstrang for no reason, Rowena. The headmaster was made aware of your actions...'

'No, he was made aware of what Baransti thought were my actions!' Rowena interrupted curtly. 'He has it out for me.'

'Something which you have never been able to prove,' Albus retorted.

'You never believe me,' Rowena muttered.

Albus sighed faintly. 'I want to, Rowena, really, I do, but you have to understand, you getting angry and reacting to whatever may be happening his not helping the situation.'

'So, it's my fault, as usual?' Rowena questioned heatedly.

'That is not what I said.'

There was a slight, silent pause in the kitchen where neither knew what to say. Well, Rowena had many things she wanted to say to Albus but she knew many of them would get her into trouble and make things even worse for her.

'I think you should change schools,' said Albus, voicing Rowena's one true fear.

A breath hitched in her throat and her eyes widened as she looked at Albus in shock. She released her arms from her chest and she walked towards the kitchen table, resting her hands upon the back of a chair.

'You said I could choose which school I went to,' said Rowena, her voice almost calm. 'You said it would up to me and...'

'And I also mentioned that if something were to happen, anything at all then I would have to remove you from whatever school you chose and send you to Hogwarts.'

'You never wanted me there in the first place!'

'I never said that,' said Albus calmly.

'You implied it.'

The normal twinkle in Albus' eyes was gone as he looked at his ward. He knew she was slowly changing into his greatest fear. He couldn't let her become what he knew she could be. He sighed lightly again when Rowena looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze any longer. He watched as her cheeks tinged a pink colour, knowing she was probably feeling embarrassed.

'I no longer have a choice,' said Albus, moving towards the kitchen door to leave.

Rowena took one step towards him, moving from around the chair. 'You always have a choice,' she said quickly, desperation clear in her voice. 'I don't want to go to Hogwarts.'

'Why?' Albus asked immediately.

Rowena shrugged nervously, avoiding Albus' eyes once again as she glanced at the floor, finding it much more interesting. 'I don't know. It would be weird,' she said slowly, shrugging.

'You are going to Hogwarts,' Albus stated.

'No!' Rowena half-shouted, tears instantly springing to her eyes.

'Rowena you aren't leaving me much choice...'

'Albus, please,' she said quickly. 'I like going to Durmstrang. It's small and I know things there. I don't want to learn everything all over again. I promise I will behave from now on. I won't do anything else.'

Silence fell between them once more only to be broken by the slight creaking of the kitchen door opening. Both Rowena and Albus looking towards it, immediately seeing Aberforth standing there. Suddenly, Rowena felt her spirits lift. She knew Albus' brother Aberforth would stick up for her. He always did.

Albus gave his younger brother a small smile. 'Ah Aberforth, how long have you been there?'

'Long enough,' he spoke gruffly. 'What's she done?' he instantly asked, pointing towards Rowena.

Inwardly, Albus rolled his eyes. He knew where this was going. It was about to become two against one as it always did when he interrupted one of their arguments.

'At school last year, as I am sure you remember, Rowena attacked a first year student for an offhand comment and this year alone she has attacked three different students for random and silly things.'

'How do you know they're silly?' Aberforth asked quickly. 'Did you ask exactly what happened?'

'Of course I did,' Albus replied calmly.

'Come on, Albus,' said Aberforth, dismissing the whole thing with a wave of his hand. 'You know what teenagers are like. I'm sure even if she were at Hogwarts, things wouldn't be much different. Besides, I'm sure she has learnt her lesson, right?' he asked, his blue eyes turning on Rowena.

Rowena bit her bottom lip as she looked at Aberforth. She nodded her head rapidly at him before looking towards Albus, her eyes full of hope. Albus exhaled heavily. He knew that he was going to have to give in to Rowena once again. Part of him thought that if he denied his ward then things with her personally would worsen and it would be his fault. He didn't spoil her but he supposed this one thing she wanted wouldn't be too bad if he could keep an eye on her.

'Fine,' Albus said eventually, to Rowena's pure delight. 'But I am going to make sure Headmaster Dobtcheff watches you like a hawk until I'm satisfied with your behaviour. And do not get any ideas. He will be updating me on everything.'

Rowena opened her mouth to speak but Albus held up his hand, stopping her. He wasn't yet finished speaking. 'If there is one more accident, doesn't matter who is at fault, I will send for you and you will go to Hogwarts. Is that understood?'

Rowena nodded her head quickly again and when Albus nodded his head once, Rowena knew she had won. She moved quickly and hugged Aberforth before giving Albus a long one. It was the first time since he was a child had she touched him. When she felt his arms go around her, hugging her back, she felt relieved and happy for the first time in a while.