Chapter 3

When the nurse had sent word to him, only half of Aberforth had dared to wish, and dream that maybe he had found her. This was not the first time they had thought they had got her back and then it always turned out not to be her. Every time…

He and Albus rarely spoke of the sister now that they had harmed so that day when she had been so young. When she had been an innocent and Aberforth had never stopped blaming his brother or himself. When she had cried out…if only he had stopped…if only they all had…

Going up to his brother's office he discovered he was not there, but in the hospital wing. He was out of breath by the time he got there (as he had run all the way from the Hogs Head). Stopping outside he took a deep breathe, knowing if she was not there his heart was going to break all over again. Still he was used to it by now.

Going in, to his right he saw two boys on the left in bed. A bushy haired girl was sitting in between them. They looked a bit worse for wear.

"Is Professor Dumbledore here?" he asked nervously.

They pointed to a bed that had a screen round it. He before stopped for a moment going in. Please…let it be her…

He walked in. It was. It was his little Ariana.

She was sitting up in bed with Albus by her side. She seemed comfortable and happy though pale and drawn, her little eyes read from crying. She was looking at their elder brother before he came in but as he approached her it seemed she still had eyes only for him.

He sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand. It was just like old times. Whether that was a good thing or not, he didn't know.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Not so bad. Where's papa?" she asked. Both brothers had almost forgotten that was her favourite question. A sad, sympathetic smile appeared on both there faces.

"He can't come here sweetheart." Said Albus and she seemed to accept it. There was a sadness in her eyes though.

Ever since he had entered the room though Aberforth had not looked at his brother once. Only his sister. He had been so close to given up hope of this day ever coming. He had thought…well he didn't know. There had been a thousand places she could have been when she had disappeared from the room. Thank god she had come here. To her brothers. Straight back to his arms where he thought she belonged.

"We're going to take care of you properly this time." He promised her gently. No matter what he was going to hold true too that. Nothing came before the three of them now.

"Are you sad Aba?" she asked gently. He smiled. She didn't know how many times he had dreamt he had heard her call out to him by that name. It fell upon his eras like the sweetest music.

"No, why would I be sad? I've got you back."

"But you're crying."

"Well when people are happy they cry some times." He said to her smiling. She looked confused by that, so shook her head at leant back in to her pillows.

"Has she eaten?" He asked Albus.

"Tomato soups on the way." He smiled.

"Again?" asked Ariana.

"What?" asked Albus.

"I had tomato soup for lunch."

"Of course you did." He said to her. He had made it for her on the day of the argument. That was mere hours ago for her. Yet it had been decades for him. "What would you like to eat Ari?"

"Toast." She declared.

"Then toast it is." He smiled. "What would you like on it?"

"Just butter." she said.

"Ok," he said as she leant back again, shutting her eyes.

It was quite a job for them both brothers when the toast came to make her wake up and eat it. She was too tired and only got through a couple of mouthfuls in the end.

She was soon peacefully asleep, her brothers by her side and whilst it had been as if she had never been away from them for her, it was the biggest relief ever for them. She was…back, from the dead it seemed.

"How did she get that graze on her head?" asked Aberforth noticing where she had hit her head on the rock.

"Must have hit it in the forest." Albus guessed. He wasn't sure.

"Do you think she is ok? I mean a minute ago, to her, we were teenagers and now we're old men and she doesn't bat an eye lid. It makes no sense."

"I know. I don't understand it either. Shall we let her sleep and head up to my office?" he asked and he nodded, kissing her gently on her fore head before they both left, passing Ron, Hermione and Harry who were all asleep on the way on.

"So what now?" asked Aberforth as they got back in to the office. "Is she going to come back to the Hogs Head with me?" he asked hopefully. He would gladly take care of her for all of his days now.

Albus paused. He had a thoughtful look on his face. "Maybe, but I think we should look in to our options first…"

"What St Mungo's?"

"No, never! Our mother worked so hard to keep her out that place, you don't seriously think I'd just give her over. You forget I love her dearly too." There was a clear offence in his voice. "You're not the only one who is glad to see her safe you know."

"Of course I do. I'm sorry Albus. I don't know why I said that. Forgive me brother." He begged and Albus smiled gently. Of course he would. That day had caused so many old and new emotions to stir in both brothers.

"What I meant by our options was the…society has changed so much in the past 100 years. And if we show her magic can be a good thing, then maybe we can cure her of her fear. If she is at Hogwarts learning with others, she wouldn't feel as if she were strange or weird, or wrong." He suggested, wanting the best for her. "I imagine we can make her control her magic more."

"I don't know," he said to him drawing a long breathe. "It's certainly ambitious." He said. He only wanted her to be safe. Nothing more or less…

"Yes it is. I want her to have the life she so deserves. I want her pain to end." He admitted. Nothing else mattered it seemed. The two brothers were united in there dreams for there sister but unable to agree on how to achieve them it seemed.

Aberforth sat down by his brother. What he was saying made a lot of sense. With Albus as headmaster there was going to be no trouble getting her on to the schools register. But the ministry…that was an obstacle.

"When the ministry find out what happened they are going to be involved." He said to him.

"Yes, but I hardly think Fudge is going to start a quarrel with me. He needs my advice too much." He said, and he knew he sounded arrogant but it was true. "That won't be a problem."

"As long as she is protected, I'll agree. But only if she can, I don't want pressure on her." he said fiercely protective.

"Then we want the same things."

"Well let's face it neither of us want her to go back to the way she was living before," Aberforth nodded. "Ok, as long as she is comfortable, safe and happy, I'll help."

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