Revised: 14 March 2011

Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, nor any other of the great characters!

Mad Sanity

Chapter 1

"No, I don't want it." Ariana was as stubborn as the rest of her family even in her illness that was for sure.

Albus Dumbledore could not wait for Aberforth to get back from Hogwarts. Even though he knew he should not load his sister of to his brother, it was easier. Not only for himself, but for them all. She adored Aberforth, and to Ari he could do no wrong. He'd be back that evening thankfully.

"Fine," Said Albus as he took the food tray away before she hit it away like she had the day before, without even touching it. It was no good to try and force her to eat. And he did not want to clear away another mess if he was honest.

"Albus?"

"Yes Ariana?" he said trying to keep contempt for her out of his voice.

"When are mama and papa coming home?"

He softened towards her in that moment considerably and took hold of her hand. After all this time she didn't understand their father wasn't going to be coming home, or that she had accidentally killed their mama. She would never understand.

He squeezed her hands, sighed and kissed her forehead but she leant away from his comfort. She didn't trust him to comfort her. Not like she did their other brother.

Ever since those bastard's had wrecked her life…

"I want papa!" she said to him.

"I know you do Ariana," he said as he stroked her hair out her face. He knew that only to well.

She had been their fathers little girl before everything had gone on. He had doted on her. Much the way Aberforth did now when he was home. Albus, however, did not have the patience.

He sat with her for a while and held her hands.

She was a sweet little girl really he thought. She just didn't understand…and that was not her fault. He had to remind himself of that.

"Shall we try some of this soup now Ari, its tomato, your favourite!" he said to her forcing a smile waiting for her reaction.

She nodded, and ate it all with his help. It had cooled and was not too hot. By the end of it she was positively worn out. Before he had left the room she was asleep.

He paused for a moment to look at her. She had been through so much for someone as young as she was. He knew to get angry with her was not right. It wasn't fair. None of it.

His bright eyes trace her pale face.

She had chestnut brown hair and when she had eyes open, they were as blue as his. It was a mirror image.

Again, he kissed her forehead with a gentle affection before going down stairs to find his friend Gellert waiting for him.

"Was she being difficult?"

"Not really. She is having a good day believe it or not. Asked after dad again though."

"How many times do you have to tell her?" with annoyance in his voice.

"Don't. It isn't her fault she can't understand." He said protectively. He didn't like it when his friend spoke about her like that.

"Sorry."

XXX

"Can I go up and see Ariana?" that was the first thing that Aberforth asked when he got back. Albus nodded.

Running up the stairs two at a time, he was anxious to see her. He always was. He knew Albus didn't look after her as their mother had. He thought it was below him, the brilliantly clever young wizard that he was.

The first thing he noted was that she was thinning out again. Well that was no surprise. He was the only one who could persuade her to eat at times.

Taking her hand gently, as not to disturb her from her slumber he kissed it. He had missed her so much it had hurt.

"I'm home Ari." He whispered to her. Her eyes slowly crept open. He could have kicked himself. He had not intended to wake her.

"Aba." She said, using her own nickname for him.

"Hey…how you feeling?"

"Not well." She said to him.

"No. Oh my dear." he said to her. "We're going to have to sort that out." He said as she moved to let him embrace her. It was good to be home he thought to himself. "I missed you so much dearest, I thought of you every day!"

"Me too…" she said simply.

"Well, I am home now for two months, and I can look after you properly." He promised her. "It will all be ok now."

"Good, I don't think Al likes looking after me. Or even me at all. I do bad things." she said.

"No, Ariana. You can't help it, you're a good person. And Albus knows it in his heart."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, as if she was trying to order her thoughts. To no avail as usual. Her frustration bubbled over and it wasn't long till she was weeping in to Aberforth's arms.

XXX

"Why don't you leave her with him we can go and find the Deathly Hallows?" asked Gellert.

"Because she is not his responsibility." Albus insisted.

"She is just as much his as she is yours!"

Aberforth sat on the stairs listening in. He hated his brother's friend for what he had said. And what the hell were the Deathly Hallows?

"She's my sister."

"She's crazy, that's what she is!"

"Through no fault of her own."

Aberforth had heard enough. She had got herself into a right state earlier because she believed her own family hated her. For Albus maybe it wasn't so far from the truth!

"Shut up, both of you shut up!" he yelled as he entered the room.

"Aberforth…" his brother sighed.

"No, golden boy. How can you listen to him?"

"Because he knows I speak the truth!"

"Gallert." Albus warned.

"Take it back!" demanded Aberforth. His voice was deathly low. He drew his wand. Gellert did the same.

"Why? She holds him back, you know she does." he shrugged.

"Stop it both of you!" said Albus.

"No, he is in our mother's house insulting our little sister, why should I? TAKE IT BACK!" he bellowed.

It was then that they begun to duel. Albus felt his heart shatter. Two out of the three people he cared in the world for most were duelling. But it wasn't long till he was fighting by his brother's side. Gallert was a superior in knowledge of spells. Aberforth needed help. Without his brother, he stood not chance.

If he had not begun to fight then he might have seen Ariana coming down the stairs. The tiny girl was in her dressing gown and she clutched her goat soft toy to her heart. Aba had given it to her last Christmas.

"Aba, Al stop it!" she pleaded. But it was no good. Spells and sparks flew insanely back and forth.

She only saw one way to stop it then. To get in the middle. All three boys tried to stop their spells as she tried to interrupt the fight. But it was too late. They all collided with each other and her. Then she was gone from the room.

To be continued.

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