Dislcaimer-Not owned by me, I wish, but alas, JK got there first...may her name be praised.

I looked up at mother. She was all we had left. Father had been arrested two weeks earlier and we still could not believe what had happened. The room was dark, save for a single candle. Mother had the bible out. I heard he mumble, "Ubi enim est thesaurus tuus ibi est et cor tuum." I wasn't sure if I should, but in a small, quivering voice I managed to say, in just above a whisper, "Mother...what does that mean?" She turned her sad face to me and replied in the same whsiper, "It means where your treasure it, there your heart will be. The people you love will always be the greatest treasure you have Albus...always."

Chapter 3: Orphaned Brothers

Albus stared blankly at the parchment for a moment. His magnificent brain seemed, for the first time ever, to have gone blank. But the pause was temporary. He looked back at Doge. All color had left Albus's face, his hands trembled as the parchment fell to the floor with a soft rustle. Albus moved across the room, pulling his wand as he went. With a wave his trunk disapparated with a sharp crack and before even the sound had died down he was out of the room, running down the stairs and into the main bar where he too disappeared with the same crack. A few seconds later Doge came out of the room and at the very spot where Dumbledore had stood just moments before and he followed.

After that terrible sensation of being pushed through a rubber tube, Albus's eyes took in the sight. It was bright out, his eyes stung for a few seconds as they adjusted from the dim Leaky Cauldron room to the bright midday sun. A row of rather decent sized homes, all in a line on either side of the road. The smell of flowers beat against his sense of smell. The bright beautiful day seemed to mock him. Albus turned to his right and ran to nice, but slightly run down home. His house stood before him, it seemed like everything was okay...except...it had an almost ghostly feeling about it. Before he could think anything else, Aberforth came pelting out of the door and grabbed a hold of the folds of Albus's robes. He was crying, his voice was strained as he tried to keep his voice as low as possible and still have Albus hear him. "Albus ..Ariana...she had one of her fits, I wasn't there, I had to go get food for the goats and..."

Albus pulled his brother into a tight hug and asked, "Where is Ariana? Where is she Ab?"

Aberforth pushed Albus away slightly. His voice quivered when he spoke, just above a whisper. "She...she is in her bedroom. I've got her calmed down, said we would play with the goats when...when mother gets home." As Aberforth let go Bathilda came running across the street. She had shoulder length brown hair, which was flying behind her. "Albus, Aberforth and I managed to get a healer summoned. He said it looked like a charm or something had backfired. Do you know..."

Her last words were cut off as Doge apparated in their midst, sending Bathilda to the ground. With a word of apology, Doge looked at Dumbledore, obviously trying to say something, offer some comfort. Albus just shook his head. "I need to get to St. Mungo's. Elph, stay with Aberforth. Bathilda, thank you for all you have done, but I must ask you to stay away from our house." He turned to Aberforth, trying to communicate without giving too much away in front of Bathilda. "Aberforth, you know what you need to do." Aberforth nodded, the two sets of piercing blue eyes met, both clouded with fear and emotion.

Albus looked at them and just as he was about to focus on the magical hospital when another loud crack sent Bathilda to the ground. Albus ignored her stream of not so well chosen words. The man was wearing a St. Mungo's healers robes. He was a tall, grim looking man, his pale skin stretched too thin on his long bones. His lips were a gray color. He looked almost like a corpse.

The man looked from Bathilda to Elphias to Aberforth and finally to Albus. His gray eyes looking directly into each one. "I am looking for Albus Dumbledore" he announced in a slow, deep, mournful voice.

Without preamble, he said in a very crisp, uncaring voice, "I am sorry to inform you that your mother, Kendra Dumbledore has passed away. We ask that if at all possible, you let us know the arrangements for her funeral as soon as possible. I must also inquire if you know what happened before she was killed."

Albus opened his mouth once, twice, each time words unable to come out. He finally managed to say in a strangled voice. "Mother...she liked to experiment with charms". The man nodded and disapparated without another word.

No one moved for a few seconds until, with a wail of tears, Aberforth fell to his knees. His cries tore at the air as Albus sunk to his knees and pulled his brother. Bathilda and Elphias looked at each other. Pain etched in their face as the two orphans embraced and cried. And in a whisper into Aberforth's ear, Albus murmered, "Ubi enim est thesaurus tuus ibi est et cor tuum"