Word Count: 373

Warning: A Child's Grief

Easter Egg: Abstract Egg, Day: 26. Ariana Dumbledore

Tears Fall, Magic Builds (Nothing Helps)

There were lots of people milling around, all wearing black. Black robes, black cloaks, black suits, black hats. Ariana didn't like it.

She stood between her brothers, holding their hands with both of her own. Abey had already hit Alby once, and Ariana didn't like that, so she stood between them because they both loved her. She knew they did.

Even when they were fighting with each other, neither of them would hurt her.

She'd heard them arguing the night before too. About whether she should be allowed to go to the funeral with them. That had hurt her head and made her magic swell and they'd come running when they heard her furniture banging around. Crying, she'd told them that she wanted to go and say goodbye to Mummy.

So they let her.

Now that she was here though, Ariana didn't know why she'd wanted to come. Mummy wasn't here. They'd made it sound like she'd be here when they'd been arguing but Ariana couldn't find her.

And she would have been able to find her in the midst of all these people because Mummy never wore black. She knew Ariana liked bright colours, so she always wore them.

"Where's Mummy?" she asked, tugging on both of her brother's hands. They exchanged a look over her head, and then Alby crouched down so that he was at her eye level.

"We talked about this, Ari," he murmured. "Mama's gone."

"But you said she'd be here," Ariana replied, scowling. "Last night, you and Alby said that you were coming here to say goodbye to Mummy!"

"It's a ceremony," Alby said, his eyes sad as he looked at her. "Mama has already gone, but this is so that we can say goodbye to her properly. She's not here, Ari."

"But I want to see her!"

She cried, and she could feel her magic building, the way it always did when she was scared or upset. Alby scooped her up and walked away from the people in black, back towards their house.

Over his shoulder, she could see Abey watching after them.

Alby's hand stroked over her back and he murmured calming words to her, but it didn't stop her tears.

She just wanted Mummy.