Torn Between Brothers

A/n: Many thanks for the lovely, positive reviews for the last chapter. I am happy to see that you already like the plot outline and hope that you stick with it as the story progresses.

Chapter Two: A Trip to Hogsmeade

Armando Dippet popped his head around the office door of his closest and dearest friends and sighed inwardly. Once again, Albus Dumbledore was holed up his office working while the sun was shinning and while everyone else was enjoying themselves. Armando cared for his friend deeply, they had known each other for years both personally and professionally and Armando had taken to looking upon Albus, as the son he never had. He was worried that Albus was becoming to shut away from the world; he was throwing himself into work and taking on other responsibilities in order to remain isolated. His friend hadn't always been this way, Albus had always been the life and soul of the party but that had changed with the dark times they had faced and the death of his only sister at the hands of a dark wizard that Albus had been tracking for years. Armando felt the need to do something; he had to get Albus out from his self-imposed isolation because it wasn't good for him.

"Albus!" greeted Armando as he strolled into the office "Like to accompany me a trip to Hogsmeade?"

"I would like to oblige you Armando but sadly these lesson plans will not do themselves." Albus replied without even looking up at his friend and employer.

"No they won't but they will be there later on this evening," countered Armando "getting out in the fresh air will do you wonder and I see that your sweet supply is low so a trip to Honeydukes is in order."

Albus looked up at the mention of his sweet supply, the large blue and red marble bowl was indeed nearly empty and sherbet lemon wrappers covered his desk. Maybe a trip into town wasn't such a bad idea; he could stock up on sweets and might even catch a glimpse of Aberforth's new love interest.

"You have convinced me!" said Albus as he placed his quill down for the second time within an hour.

"I knew the sweets would do it," answered Armando with a chuckle "I know you too well my friend."

Armando made for the door; Albus rose to his feet and quickly followed the headmaster out into the corridor. Albus had always thought that Hogwarts never truly seemed alive without the students; the silence in corridors only confirmed that to him as he walked along them with Armando. It seemed so quiet, the sounds of their footsteps echoing around them and that was something that never happened when the students were crowded in the narrow corridors.

"I thought we would walk into the village Albus," said Armando breaking into his friend's musings "shame not to make the most of such a beautiful day."

"Agreed!" was the simple reply from Armando's companion.

They walked in a relaxed silence till they reached the school's outer gates, the heavy iron gates swung close behind them and then they were of again. They walked along the sloping path that led to the small village of Hogsmeade, flowers had sprouted out all along the path and it looked rather picturesque. Armando had hoped for some lively conversation but it seemed to be not on the agenda, which displeased slightly, the old Albus would ramble on about utterly random things ranging from muggle inventions to new ministry policies.

"Did I see your brother trampling through Professor Hedgeworths prized flowers this morning?" asked Armando, trying to encourage conversation.

"I hope for his sake it wasn't," answered Albus with a smile "Cecile with have his guts for garters if it was but yes, he did pop by earlier."

Cecile Hedgeworth was known for her protective nature of all things green including Slytherins, she was known for giving detentions for things such as standing on a new patch of grass to making daisy chains. She had already warned Aberforth once about not trampling through her prized flowers and told him that she would hex him to next year, if she caught him again. It was obvious from the headmaster's comments about his brother that Aberforth had taken no notice of her threats. Albus wondered how long it would like the green-fingered professor to come and seek him out and complain about Aberforth.

"Any reason to his visit?" questioned Armando who always found Aberforth Dumbledore interesting but slightly peculiar.

"It seems that a woman has caught his eye!" answered Albus, "he wanted to come and tell me about her."

"Well I'll be," stated the older wizard, "never thought he took much interest in anything else but his goats and beer. Your mother will be happy!"

Albus cocked his head sideways and caught his friend's eye; it was a standing joke about his mother's happiness between them both. Armando had faced many an encounter with Mrs Dumbledore who seemed to think that it was his fault that her beloved, eldest son Albus was yet to marry. Armando had been accused of working Albus too hard and playing him not enough to live on which wasn't the case at all but Mrs Dumbledore would not listen. Armando had tried to be nice and pleasant towards his friend's mother but found it hard to contain his temper and so kept out of her way when she was visiting.

"Oh yes she will be happy for a while but then her attention will back on me," said Albus "I can just hear her now, Aberforth managed to get himself a girl so why can't you and then she try and set me up. Oh the very thought makes me want to run for the hills."

"I would run as well," admitted Armando with a grin "so what do you about the lass that has captured your brother's heart?"

"As much as him and that's not much at all." Albus replied before telling a bemused Armando what he knew.

They soon reached Hogsmeade and Armando found himself being led towards Honeydukes before he had time to even suggest that it should be their first stop. As usual the shop was packed with people, students from Hogwarts enjoying their time off school and filling up on sweets that would keep them up all night. Armando peered around the shop, his eyes falling upon shelves and shelves of succulent sweets. Albus managed to squeeze himself through the crowd and over to a small quiet corner that had an array of muggle sweets on sale while Armando made his way over to the 'Unusual taste's' corner to get himself some Cockroach Clusters, he had taken a fancy to them in his school boy days and had never looked back.

Albus was in his element; he had filled a bag to the brim with sherbet lemons and was know selecting a wide range of both muggle sweets and wizarding ones. He felt that one could never not have enough sweets, as a boy he would have some in every room so they were always close by. His mother had tried to discourage his sweet tooth but his father, had always encouraged it and had always given him sweet money on the strict instruction not to tell his mother.

"Do you think you have enough there Albus?" asked Armando as he peered at his friend's mixture of sweets with amusement.

"Just a few more and then I'll have plenty to tide me over for a few days." Albus replied as he dropped a handful of delicate sugar quills into his bag

"I am surprised you still have any teeth left." Armando stated with a shake of his head.

"I always brush my teeth," commented Albus "you can't really frown upon my sweet habits when you choose to eat them without even being dared to."

Armando looked down at his clusters and shrugged "No one else I know eats them so that means more for me. There is a method to my madness Albus unlike you, who is simply mad."

Albus chuckled and shook his head, he was glad that Armando had dragged him out of his office and into Hogsmeade because he already felt good. Albus got in line to pay with Armando behind him.

"I would offer to pay for them Armando but I don't want to be seen buying things like that," said Albus with a grin "I have a reputation to keep."

"I have a reputation to keep as well Albus but that doesn't stop me being seen in public with you!" replied Armando

"Now you know I do your reputation good old man," threw back Albus with a raised eyebrow.

"You are like a married couple!" came a voice from behind them.

Both Armando and Albus turned around to see Aberforth stood behind them with arms folded against his chest, his eyes were twinkling with merriment and an amused grin overwhelmed his face.

"With a grin like that I presume you have seen her!" stated Albus

"No," replied Aberforth "doesn't look like my luck is in today. I am heading home so I'll leave you both to your bickering. I'll floo you soon dear brother of mine."

Aberforth slipped out of the shop and left Albus and Armando to pay for their sweets and make their way out of the stop. As Albus stepped out from the busy shop, he bumped into someone and knocked that person flying to the ground.

"Do you mind?" questioned a voice from the ground

TBC