The last of the Dumbledore clan deals with his grief. Some references to events in the Fantastic Beasts trilogy. I have this head canon that Aberforth might be dyslexic given that the elder Dumbledore suggested his brother could not read.
The Last One
"Berk! Nincompoop! You have some nerve! Leaving your bloody mess for me to clean up, like always!"
He knew the tomb had been broken into by that noseless freak. Still, he was not prepared for the extent of the destruction that greeted him. Why go to all the trouble of a fancy tomb if you had something to hide buried with you? If Albus had not been so addled in his last days, perhaps he would have requested his brother hide the wand somewhere safe. The marble sarcophagus had been shattered. More wanton destruction littered the surroundings. He could see the tattered graveclothes and exposed bones. Something crunched underfoot. He hoped it was not a bone.
Aberforth took a deep breath to calm himself. He had played his part for the Order, opening his inn to shelter the students on whom their hopes hinged, and later allowing those trapped in Hogwarts to evacuate through his home. He had stood with the defenders of Hogwarts, wand drawn and facing down impossible odds. It was a foolhardy move for an old man well past his prime, who was never much of a wizard to start with.
His son sleeps in an unmarked grave on the far hillside overlooking the lake. He had buried him with his own two hands under the cover of night. He did not wish Aurelius to be disturbed after his turbulent life. Not even when Albus raged against him, for he wished to bury his nephew alongside their mother and sister in Godric's Hollow.
They had always been at odds with each other since boyhood.
"Aberforth, stop selling yourself short! You will complete your studies. I can take care of Ariana until then."
"Nothing in the books make sense, Albus, I tried!"
The simplest spell instructions could have been the most arcane of runes where Aberforth was concerned. What he did know was how to stand and fight with both fists and hexes against those who teased him in school. It was a habit that dismayed their mother no end. He knew how to soothe his little sister's often volatile moods. Mother had cared for Ariana until the accident. Now Albus was volunteering to forgo that Mastery in Alchemy so his brother could complete his studies. What did Albus know about their sister's needs?
They had argued all summer. That argument would be moot by fall. Aberforth never understood why his brother felt as he did about that Grindelwald.
That sorry git had fled, leaving Ariana dead on the sitting room floor. He broke Albus' nose at the funeral. Albus then left for his Mastery in Paris, leaving him to deal with the aftermath. Miss Bagshot helped where she could, shocked by the turn of events. Perhaps her dearest nephew had played her too. His own romance ended abruptly when his sweetheart and her family left the village without a word.
He was angry when he learned that he had a son from that summer liaison and that the boy was in Grindelwald's fold, but not as furious when he learned that his own brother had known of it for close to two years and kept it from him. It took three months before they would resume their Thursday suppers.
When they finally got Aurelius back from Grindelwald's clutches, the boy was already dying. Four months of nursing his boy through sleepless nights until Aurelius lost his fight for life. An Obscurial. It was rare that they lived as long as Ariana and Aurelius did.
Albus' last visit to the Hog's Head…
"Now is this Order business or family?"
"Family… I have been thinking…"
"No, you clearly have not been. Going on about some prophecy and Chosen One…"
"I would like you to sit this one out… be my back-up in case…"
"Seriously? You have that… What is holding you back? Surely not the same thing with that German git," he indicated the Elder Wand nestled in Albus' flowing sleeve with a nod. Albus grimly rolled up his other sleeve to reveal his blackened hand.
"Something will happen soon at Hogwarts. I do not want you involved, not now. You will know when the time is right…"
Aberforth's breath hitched at the tone of finality in those words.
"You prat, you cannot just leave us like this! The Great Albus Dumbledore lost to a two-bit curse!"
"I had to put it on, Gaunt's ring - the Resurrection Stone, I wanted to tell them I am sorry… but the curse came before I could call them. Aberforth, I am sorry…"
"You moron! Get out of my inn! I want no part of your schemes, you hear!"
Albus was gone before he threw the tankard at him. That was their final meeting. What he next saw of his brother was his broken body at the foot of the Astronomy Tower. The news of the attack had spread, and he could not keep away. He had quickly melted back into the crowd of gawkers, bidding his time.
In his youth he had been called foolhardy and reckless. He did not have the capacity to plan like his brother did. His was quick thinking and action in the heat of battle. Listening to Doge's eulogy, he had sworn to continue his brother's work in the Order, but from the shadows. He had watched out for the Potter lad, supplied the student resistance building within the castle's walls from his inn. The Longbottom kid was a decent sort. There was also that friendly house elf Dobby with his odd clothes. He would later learn from Harry the elf had been killed. Another victim of the war. He had almost given up, believing the struggle to be futile. What hope did the Potter lad have against Voldemort? In the end he could not walk away.
Life goes on. He had the Hog's Head to run.
The Scamanders were expected. A small private reunion for old times' sake. The very first ragtag group assembled a long time ago to take down another Dark Wizard almost another lifetime ago. The Muggle baker was long gone from old age. He was not sure if the Americans would come. He knew the Scamanders were part of the fight, supporting the Order from the shadows during the latest war, as he had done until the Battle.
A moment of silence. The last of the Dumbledores regarded his surroundings before reaching into his sleeve.
Reparo… A silent flick of his trusty wand. The shattered sarcophagus knit itself together, broken shards lifting from the dust and slotting into place. Disturbed bones and mouldy bits of shroud tucking themselves within.
It was done. Aberforth put his wand away in his sleeve-holster.
"I forgave you a long time ago, over Ariana and Aurelius… just don't ask me the same about that German git."
Author's Notes:
Aberforth will never forgive Grindelwald, not in this lifetime.
Newt and Tina were suggested to be still alive, retired, and living in Dorset during the time Harry was in Hogwarts.