Albus Dumbledore

"Albus, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but there's something important we should talk about," Minerva's voice echoes throughout Albus' office. He looks up from his students' papers and gives the transfiguration professor a nod before she approaches his desk and drops the latest print of the Daily Prophet alongside a letter. "It was delivered this morning, but I had a few lessons-" "Don't worry about it, Minerva, at least you're here now." Dumbledore grabs the newspaper, and in bold letters, it reads HEAD AUROR OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC REPORTED DEAD: INEVITABLE DOOM FOR GREAT BRITAIN?

"Theseus Scamander? Newt's brother?" Albus asks aloud, although he knows exactly who the headlines are talking about. "It doesn't get better - he was supposed to be the Head of Magical Law Enforcement by the end of the year…." Minerva further cuts Albus before he can speak up, "Died on a mission to Nurmengard, killed by Grindelwald himself. Supposedly chose to confront him alone despite bringing a group of Aurors along." The transfiguration professor's voice dragged with concern; after all, everyone in-and-out of the Ministry thought he would serve as the Ministry's solution to Grindelwald's seemingly never-ending rise.

After a long couple of seconds of silence, Albus spoke, his voice steady and warm as always. "Thank you, Minerva," he noted with a smile, and Minerva took this as her sign to leave his office. When he can no longer hear her heels tapping from across the floor, he sways his hand to the door, locks it shut, and leans back in his seat. Surprise was an understatement for what Albus felt: he knew that Theseus was a bit rebellious - not to the extent of Newt's disregard for rules, but he was willing to try and bend things to work around the system - but to go on a private Ministry mission with this importance and not alert the rest of the army? He knew the Ministry held private missions, but they were only ever to implement Aurors to work undercover.

Yet amusement reached his eyes as it shone, reflecting the lights of the flaming candles and fireplace around him. Albus had heard of the doubts Theseus carried - Newt confided in him one night, only a few days before Theseus' private mission, worried that Theseus was going to get himself killed. He also remembered the promise he had made to the Auror all those years ago in Bhutan - if he were completely honest, he believed the Hufflepuff had forgiven him. Perhaps he shouldn't have doubted Hufflepuff's ability to hold only his words.

Theseus never attracted him the way his younger brother did. Albus knew he had always had an eye for the standouts, and to him, Theseus was another one of those smart, hardworking, athletic - albeit humble - students who would find comfort in following the orders of the establishment. And with that, he would never properly see eye-to-eye with Theseus, for Albus was the man who the establishment never understood. Yet he isn't one of those mindless Aurors; he knew he shouldn't have underestimated the Scamander, even morally against his brother.

The group gathered in their usual room in the Hog's Head Inn, the grief of Theseus' missing presence still carrying on even after the funeral. Aberforth came in, a pot of Ariana's favourite stew simmering over the fire. "Sorry for your loss, kid," he grumbles under his breath to no one in particular, but Newt nods anyway. The funeral was over, but the scars still bled painfully. "Never trust a secretive brother, I've learnt; someone always gets hurt or dies in the end."

All eyes were on Aberforth - Albus' included. Newt stuttered: "Well, Theseus wasn't the s-secretive type. I was the one pushing him away, really…,' his voice fading out by the end, the never-ending nagging thought pestering him. Aberforth silently approached the table and leaned lazily on it with an arm: "Didn't bother to tell you about this damn mission."

"Ministry stuff."

"Those are just excuses, kid. Everyone has those."

"I think that's enough, Aberforth-" Albus steps in, but it doesn't stop Aberforth. "Least he fought on the right side, did the right thing. Poor guy trusted some git for a couple years, gets death in return for acting up. Shouldn't have put any faith in the first place too. Of course, some sod's still the hero of this story - walking through those broken promises, failing this damn country. The very least that War Hero brother of yours could have been Minister if he stayed long enough. Could use a competent one like him." Albus shifts an uneasy look between his brother and Newt with everyone's eyes on him.

"Anyway," Aberforth clears his throat, "Enjoy the stew." Part of Albus wants to call him back; ask to finally talk about their past and how he can make things right. But something tells him Aberforth wouldn't appreciate his presence, yet he can't take the gawking eyes on him right now. "I think it's best if I leave. Good night, and my deepest condolences. Theseus truly didn't deserve what he went through." With a snap, he was gone.

The Dumbledores Cottage in Godric's Hollow never truly felt like home to Albus - before or after Gellert. But he never had the heart to sell or abandon it. Perhaps it was the last remains of the Dumbledore family? Or is it the last happy memories he had with the love of his life?

He knew the answer, and he silently loathed it.

He walks into his childhood bedroom, and a small silver pendant glimmers on his desk, reflecting the sunlight. His eyes linger on it a second too long - the memories flood back faster than Albus could handle. The plans they had made, promises that weren't kept, the kisses beneath bed sheets - he knows he's bargained more than he had planned. It's been clear that's the case, yet the truth was never something he'd wished to accept.

But now he walks on shards of the memories, a gruelling reminder that Theseus and Leta were both gone - two of his brightest pupils from his time at Hogwarts. Perhaps, he finally thinks to himself, it's time to confront the past.

It should have been this way from the start; a voice nags him. One that strangely mimics Theseus'.