A/N: offensive language, homophobic language, character death, torture(cruciatus curse), mention of sexual behaviour

Word Count: 2,913

Behind Blue Eyes

Aberforth sat on the edge of his bed in the small room he shared with his brother. His legs dangled over the side, pale knobbly knees sticking out from his faded brown short trousers. Across the room, Albus carefully packed his trunk; stowing clothes and books that had taken a frustratingly long time to find amongst the assortment of unpacked boxes that littered the floor of their room.

"Do you really have to go?" Aberforth did his best not to sound whiny.

Outside of a slight hesitation as he put another book in his trunk, Albus gave no indication that he had heard his little brother's question.

"Albus?"

"Yes, I have to go, alright!" Albus snapped, not even sparing his brother a glance.

Aberforth flinched at the sudden vehemence. There was a grim set to Albus' mouth; a sharpness in his voice that he wasn't used to hearing.

Things hadn't always been this way. Albus had always looked after him with a kindness and gentleness that had always made Aberforth feel safe. But that was before Ariana had gotten hurt and Daddy had gone away. Before they had moved from their old home and had to come live at this new home where he didn't know anyone, and Mommy tried not to cry, and his brother was different. He could feel the tears prick his eyes just thinking about it.

He sniffed. "Albus…I'm scared."

Albus stopped what he was doing, dropping his hands to grip the edge of his trunk as he raised his eyes to meet Aberforth's. The stiffness in his shoulders seemed to melt away as he released a long sigh. He pushed himself to his feet, walking across the short space between them and sinking down on the mattress with a creak of springs.

He sat quietly, staring at something no one else could see.

Aberforth looked up at his brother, a face as familiar to him as his own. But recently he had barely been able to recognize Albus. His features had taken on a drawn appearance, making him look much older than the ten years he was.

Now, as they sat there, he was starting to see the years drop off, leaving behind a boy that was uncertain and…sad.

Albus closed his eyes, releasing another sigh.

"I'm sorry, Abie," he said, glancing at Aberforth from the corner of his eye. "It's just…," he lifted a shoulder in a half shrug, searching for the words to describe what he was feeling. "I'm scared too," he finally said.

Aberforth's eyebrows shot up, disappearing into the shaggy hair that fell over his forehead. "Really!?" he asked, his voice coming out in a squeak.

Albus nodded, his lips pressing together. "Yeah, of course. I'm going to a school where I don't know anyone and I have to leave you all. I'm worried something might happen while I'm gone."

Somehow, Albus' confession did not instill confidence in Aberforth. Albus, sensing his younger brother's growing distress, leaned in closer. "Do you want to know a secret?" he whispered.

Aberforth gave an almost imperceptible nod, lips parted in anticipation.

"Everyone gets scared sometimes."

"Everyone?" he asked in disbelief, eyes snapping up to meet his brother's bright blue ones.

Albus laid his arm across his little brother's shoulders, pulling him tightly into his side. "The key is to not focus on tomorrow. That's why we get scared, because we're afraid of what could be. But if you just focus on one day at a time, one moment at a time, it'll be alright."

Aberforth buried his face into his brother's shirt, "I'm going to miss you," he mumbled into the rough fabric.

Albus rested his chin on the top of Aberforth's head. "I'll miss you too."

A thousand tomorrows had passed since that day, each one stretching to feel like an eon long, and each one passing just so they could reach this point in time.

Aberforth sat on his bed, legs adequately long enough for his feet to reach the floor. He was fifteen now and a far cry from the boy he had once been. But no matter how much he'd grown, he still felt that same fear he'd felt so long ago.

He dug his fingers into the blanket laid across the bed, feeling the familiar material bunch beneath his hands. His mother had made him this blanket.

A lump formed in his throat at the thought of her and he swallowed against the ache that seemed to trap the air in his lungs.

"Here."

Aberforth's eyes flicked up as Albus came to stand in front of him.

"Let me get that for you," his brother said, reaching down to adjust the collar of his robes.

Aberforth drew back, raising his hand to block his brothers. "I can do it myself."

"Don't be hard headed," Albus said, swatting Aberforth's hand to the side and tilting his chin up for easier access to the cockeyed buttons at his throat. "Not today."

Albus' rebuke forced Aberforth's eyes to the ground. His brother always had a way of making him feel like a child; like he was seven again.

In all honesty, he longed for the days when his brother could throw his arm around his shoulders and make the world feel lighter. He needed that today.

But he knew that there was no going back to that simpler time. Especially after this last year. Aberforth's eyes clouded over as he thought back to the week just before exams.

He'd been searching everywhere for Albus, finally tracking him down to the Astronomy Tower.

What met him at the top of the tower had been the last thing he expected: his brother leaning against the parapet, a dark haired boy on his knees in front of him. Their eyes locked as Albus stood frozen, his hand holding the trapdoor open. Albus quickly shoved the other boy away, pushing his robes down to cover himself.

Albus had approached him the next day, but Aberforth had brushed him off, feigning ignorance of the entire situation, intent on carrying on as if nothing had happened. However, from then on, every interaction had become strained, every moment awkward. The secret had created a miasma between them, thick and impenetrable.

Now, whenever he looked at his brother he felt like he was looking at a stranger. What else didn't he know about Albus Dumbledore? What other secrets lay buried within his brother's heart?

Albus pulled back, examining his handiwork. "There, that should do it. Ready to go?"

Aberforth took a deep breath and stood. No, he wasn't ready, but that really didn't matter.

The funeral had been a small and solemn affair. The solemnity wasn't so strange, but the size was. The wizarding community was a small tight knit bunch, and when one died they all arrived.

However, the only ones there to remember the life of Kendra Dumbledore were her three children and her dear friend Bathilda Bagshot.

Even if there was anyone else to come, they wouldn't have wanted them to. Despite their protests, Ariana had insisted on coming to the funeral and she hadn't been around a large group of people since before…well, before. But she'd wanted to be there when they put their mother into the ground. She wanted to be there to see the results of her losing control.

"Do you want to come by my place? I can make you all some dinner." Bathilda offered as they strode from the cemetery.

"I think we'll be alright, Aunt Tilda," Albus answered for them.

Aberforth tried to mask his disappointment. He wasn't looking forward to going home.

"Are y-"

"Who's that?" Ariana interrupted as she came to a standstill, her eyes riveted on the fence line.

The boys raised their eyes, their gazes falling on a grey robed figure that stood just outside the cemetery.

"Oh, that's my nephew, Gellert. He's staying with me at the moment, " Aunt Tilda answered. She reached out for Ariana and squeezed her hand. "It's alright, dear. He's just waiting to accompany me home."

As they drew closer Aberforth got a better view of the newcomer. He had curly blonde hair that fell to his shoulders and light grey eyes that spoke of coming storms.

"You know, Aunt Tilda," Albus said, eyeing Gellert, "I think we'll take you up on that offer."

Aberforth turned his attention to his brother and saw something there he wasn't used to seeing. It didn't bode well.

Aberforth had known from the moment that Albus had met Gellert Grindelwald that no good would come from it. And he had been right. The boys had taken an instant liking to each other, spending more and more time together until Albus began neglecting his responsibilities.

Aberforth had been cognizant of his brother's withdrawal, and if it didn't affect Ariana, he wouldn't have cared so much; but Aberforth would be leaving for school before too long, leaving the care of his sister in Albus' hands alone. He wasn't confident of this arrangement at all.

It had taken Aberforth some time to garner the courage to confront his brother, but now that he'd set himself on this course he couldn't depart from it. He walked softly up the stairs, stopping on the top landing in front of his mother's old bedroom. Albus had taken it for his own soon after he and Gellert had begun their secretive meetings.

Aberforth knew that the door at the top of the stairs was locked. He also knew that his brother wouldn't have done more than use a simple locking charm, trusting that Aberforth would respect his privacy.

"Alohomora," he whispered, tapping the handle with his wand. He heard a soft click. He took a steadying breath before turning the knob and opening the door.

Albus and Gellert were sitting on the bed, heads leaned in conspiratorially as they poured over a handful of papers.

They looked up at Aberforth's unexpected entrance.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Gellert sneered.

Albus laid a staying hand on Gellert's arm. "What is it, Aberforth?" he asked, his voice exuding exhaustion.

Aberforth ignored Gellert, keeping his attention on Albus. "You promised to look after our sister."

Aberforth saw the immediate guilt his words stirred up.

"You promised to take care of her, yet you spend all your time locked up here with him!" he snarled, stabbing his finger at Gellert.

Albus stepped toward him, palms outstretched. "Abie-"

"Don't call me that!" Aberforth yelled, tightening his grip on his wand. "I'm not a little kid anymore!"

Albus sighed. "Aberforth, I'm sorry. You're right, I need to do a better job. But this," he said, gesturing to the papers strewn around the room, "this is important."

"More important than whatever childish nonsense you've been up to all summer," Gellert interjected haughtily.

Aberforth raised his wand, "Shut up, you!" he shouted, the tip of his wand pointing shakily at Gellert's throat.

"There's no need for that," Albus said, approaching his brother carefully, angling his direction to put his body between the two boys.

Aberforth's eyes flicked toward Albus, and in that single moment all hell broke loose.

Gellert had taken the opportunity to pull his wand and throw a hex toward Aberforth, the red light streaking across the room almost faster than the eye could follow.

"Gellert, no!" Albus yelled.

Aberforth had seen the movement out of the corner of his eye and barely managed to duck the hex.

But Aberforth was already throwing a jinx of his own, just barely missing Gellert as it flew past his ear and impacted against the far wall.

Gellert gritted his teeth and stabbed his wand forward, casting another hex, followed closely by a third.

"Stop it!" Albus yelled, drawing his own wand, the tip wavering between Aberforth and Gellert.

Aberforth was panting now as he blocked and deflected jinxes and hexes as he looked desperately for an advantage. It finally came when Gellert overextended, leaving himself exposed.

Aberforth ducked the last jinx and flicked his wand underhanded. His spell hit Gellert squarely in the chest, throwing him backward. Aberforth could hear the crack of bone as he made contact with the wall.

A moment later he felt an invisible force bind his arms and legs, causing him to topple over. He looked unbelievingly as Albus stood above him, wand held loosely in his hand.

Aberforth struggled against the bonds. "Let. Me. Go."

"Fine, but no more." Albus waved his wand and the pressure on his limbs disappeared. Aberforth gasped as he tried to catch his breath, pushing himself upright, glaring accusingly at his brother. "Of course, you would choose him over me."

"Aberforth, that's not true and you know it," Albus denies weakly, letting his wand arm drop to his side.

"Of course it is, you fucking poof!" The slur escaped his lips before he even had a chance to think.

Albus' eyes widened, a kaleidoscope of emotion playing across his face- disbelief, anger, hurt, betrayal. It was like Aberforth could see Albus' soul shattering behind those crystal blue eyes, and it hurt him.

An apology was quickly rising in his throat, but too quickly, a searing pain overwhelmed his senses that the apology faded away from consciousness. Bands of hot metal twined around his arms and legs, flaming pokers plunging into his flesh. He couldn't tell if he was screaming, but his throat felt strained, his lungs screamed out for air as he tried to breathe past the pain that intensified with each passing moment. Aberforth felt like he was dying from a painful, drawn-out, asphyxiation.

Suddenly, the pain stopped. How long had it lasted? A minute? An hour? An eternity? Aberforth did not know but he was relieved. He was gulping for air, scrambling on the cool floor as voices gradually grew clearer and louder in the fog. He was regaining consciousness. Whatever happened, he was glad his torment was over.

"He's my brother!" Someone shouted above him.

Aberforth blinked, he recognized that voice. Albus, his brother was talking. Aberforth looked around him a little dazed and exhausted. This was a familiar place. He knew this room. Albus was nearby, he had to be safe. So, why was he begging to leave?

There was more shouting and then, suddenly, the air above him came to life as red and green leapt back and forth like a light show. And then there was nothing.

A comforting hand squeezed his shoulder. "Abi- Aberforth, are you alright?"

A blue twinkling sky hovered above him. Then it split into two skies. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. The skies coalesced into Albus' blue eyes, frantic and scared.

Aberforth groaned as he sat up. "I.. I think I'll be fine ," he said, even as every part of his being groaned in protest.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't-" Albus' face suddenly grew pale as his eyes locked onto something behind Aberforth.

Aberforth twisted around, his heart freezing at the sight before him. Just beyond the door, Ariana lay splayed out on the floor. He could hear a faint coughing.

The air suddenly felt heavy, the pressure of it threatening to crush Aberforth.

"No! No, no, no," Aberforth moaned as he dragged himself across the floor to her. His hands trembled as he reached out to touch her.

Her breathing was labored as she stared up at him with questioning eyes.

"Albus!" he cried out. "Albus, help her!" He looked at Ariana, combing her hair away from her face. He begged her, "Stay with me Ariana! You'll be okay. I promise."

Albus knelt down on the other side of her, hands hovering uncertainly over her body. "I - I don't know -," he mumbled as he shook his head.

Aberforth reached across Ariana, grabbing the front of Albus' robes. "Help her, damn you! Help our sister!"

Albus just kept shaking his head, looking at Aberforth with wide eyes. "I don't know… I don't know what to do. I don't know what's wrong." His voice wavering in a breathless plea.

Aberforth growled in frustration "Then I'll go find someone who does."

He struggled to stand. Then he felt a weak hand on his arm. He looked down where Ariana's small pale hand was trying to hold on to him. Aberforth placed his hand over hers, "Stay with her! I'll bring help."

Ariana gently squeezed his arm, slowly, three times. Then, she sucked in one last breath before her eyelids fluttered shut and her chest stopped moving.

"Ariana?" Her name came out as a plea. "Ariana!" He shook her as if she were only asleep.

"Aberforth, she's gone."

The words didn't register.

"Ariana!" His voice came in sobs now, his body shaking.

"Aberf-"

"Don't touch me!" Aberforth roared. His fist swung out, clipping Albus on the jaw and snapping his head to the side. "You did this! You killed her!"

Albus held his face, shocked "No! No, it wasn't me. Gellert-"

"Get out of here, you fucking poof!" he shouted, shoving Albus in the chest and bowling him over backward. This time he wasn't sorry about the slur.

Aberforth laid himself over Ariana's body sobbing. He heard Albus slowly get to his feet, and then, the frantic steps rushing down the stairs, and the deafening slam of the door. The sobs wracked his chest as he continued to cry loudly and shamelessly. If this was what tomorrow held then he didn't want anymore tomorrows.

He didn't want anymore.

QLFC Season 10: Round 1

Team: Montrose Magpies

Position: Chaser 1

Prompt: A broken mirror – Write about a relationship (platonic or romantic) breaking apart.

Optional Prompts:

[word] slur

[word] tomorrow

[spell] Alohomora