Dumbledore apparated back in Hogsmeade.
He could have gone back to Hogwarts, in his quarters, but he needed to clear his head. Inhaling slowly the cooling air, he gazed at the sky. The sun had already set, but its presence lingered in the bright violet hues visible just above the horizon, refusing to relinquish the world to the darkness of yet another dusk.
It's in these moments, Dumbledore mused, when Nature displays the most complex wonders of the Universe, that we can truly appreciate the wonder of living. Of drawing another quiet breath. Of simply being. In this awed stillness that lets us be unapologetically ourselves, no matter how small, big, cunning or dumb, inside a splinter of time that stretches to infinity...
"Dumbledore."
"Mh?"
Albus tore his gaze away from the sky only to find himself eye to eye with piercing blue eyes, similar to his own.
"You are blocking my clients from entering or exiting. Move aside." The barman was already already back at the counter, glaring slightly at him.
The Headmaster blinked. It seemed that his feet had carried him to the Hog's Head and he had apparently been standing on the pub's doorframe for a while, looking at the sky, oblivious to the wizards and witches on either side who were waiting for him to move, wishing to get into or away from the pub. But why did none of them think to go through the door sideways?
Legilimens.
'One does not simply slip past Albus freaking Dumbledore', after all. Or so the wizard in front of him thought. Well, at least he knew why nobody had said anything to him - and also why Aberforth was the only one who had bothered to.
"Yes, of course. I apologize ladies and gentlewizards for your inconvenience."
It was a bit of an exaggeration, calling most of the costumers 'ladies and gentlewizards', since the majority of them were a bit shady at best or outright criminals at worst, but politeness went a long way to encourage tolerance. He took a step back allowing the disgruntled costumers to pass.
"The next round is on me, Aberforth." And a bit of alcohol could only sweeten the deal.
There was a collective cheer in response that had him quirking a corner of his lips upwards. He made his excused and started to walk at a leisurely pace towards the castle, humming slightly the new single of the weird sisters "Charmed Life".
A gruff voice interrupted him. "Why?"
He turned around. Aberforth had followed him.
"Pardon?"
"You know what I mean."
"I'm afraid I do not, Aberforth."
"I thought the 'second coming of Merlin' would have caught on by now." He spat.
"What the hell were you doing at my bar just now?"
Ah. That. What did his brother mean?
"It was completely unintentional on my part, I assure you. I am deeply sorry for the trouble I gave to you and your patrons. I will never enter the Hog's Head again without forewarning you first. I offer financial compensation for tonight, should the situation warrant it..."
Aberforth interrupted. "Dammit it, Albus. Don't be a fool!"
He waved his wand and erected a privacy ward along a proximity one.
"You have refused to acknowledge me as your brother in public for what? 82 years? I was good enough to be part of your precious Order, good enough to tell you when the darkest characters of our society were readying to strike, but not good enough to be acknowledged as your brother." He said bitterly.
"You never told anybody. Because the Bloody Great Dumbledore is ashamed to have me as a brother. Like you were ashamed of our Father, for avenging Ariana, and of our Mother, for dying and leaving you to deal with yet another member of your family, who was, in your 'holier-than-thou' view, another unwanted burden on your 'brilliant' future."
Aberfort screamed the last part and continued to scream himself hoarse. Years of resentment, anger, bitterness and things left unsaid, battled to be set free.
"I know what you told everybody about me, I've always known that you thought I was nothing nothing more than a half-wit, that 'you aren't actually sure wether Abe knows how to read or not'. Do you have any idea of what it was like for me? Did you know that while you travelled the word, publishing papers on Alchemy under the tutelage of Nicholas Flamel, I took ten N.E.W.T.s? But then you had already took fourteen, and my grades were not as important."
His voice had become sharper and sharper, piercing trough Albus' heart.
"And now you finally grow a pair and waltz in my bar, without a care in the world, and you suddenly talk to me as if nothing has happened and we're best fucking pals."
"So I will ask you again and you better answer, or else..."
Albus hung his head in shame.
"What were you doing in my bar, Albus? Look at me!"
When the Headmaster turned his head up towards him Aberforth was shocked. Albus Dumbledore was crying.
Incredulity painted all over his face, Aberforth stepped closer. He couldn't remember his brother crying, ever. He hadn't cried when their father had been sent to Askaban, nor when their mother died; not even at Ariana's funeral. Aberfoth knew, because he had been so furious to see his brother impassible even then, that he broke Albus' nose during the ceremony.
"I am so sorry... so sorry. I wished it had been me, you know? I wished I had died instead of her. She was so innocent. Pure. Like you. Before her death, I had been plotting to take over the muggle world; I was becoming dark. I left because I did not want to taint you. You and Ariana didn't deserve it."
"I am sorry. I have regretted her death since it happened. I would have given my life for her's. I tried to. It didn't work. Nicholas found me after that. He told me that I had to live to honor her. And so I did. Everything I've done was for her. Is for her. Please. Believe me." In a broken voice, Albus pleaded.
"I just thought that she wouldn't want us to fight anymore. She hated it, remember? If you want we can try again. I am willing to try."
Silence met his words.
"Consider it, if not for me, at least for her, brother. I will go now."
And the Headmaster apparated back in his quarters; too tired to eat, he went to bed, falling in a fitful rest.