Down the Potter cottage pathway, Aberforth grunts and leads the way as Albus trails after him only pausing to lock the cottage with a golden key, before hurrying up to catch up to Aberforth. In somber silence, they stride through familiar roads until they arrive at the little church with glass-stained windows. The small stone church still looked the same just as from the memories of their childhood that had transpired countless years ago.
The two brothers stopped before the church next to the kissing gate at the entrance of the graveyard that had been left slightly open. The two brothers stand there lost in thought and for a moment are transported back into the past to their childhood. They could still remember visiting Godric's Hollow as small children with their father and mother and Ariana still only a mere babe in swaddled clothes. His father had excitedly brought them to visit the village where Godric Gryffindor had been born and regaled them with tales of the lion-like founder of Hogwarts.
In their memory, their father, Percival Dumbledore was still a young man. In fact, a rather good-looking man with blue eyes that twinkled and greatly resembled those of Albus. He had been a pureblood wizard, but the Dumbledore family had never limited themselves to such a title. They saw that which lay beyond them and more. It was also the reason as to why, well, family lore had it that a phoenix would always come to a Dumbledore in their greatest hour of need.
Aberforth's face grimaces a bit at that memory. A phoenix had never come to save Ariana nor their father. And as for Albus, well, that was his tale to tell, but Albus had more than amply paid the price for receiving the fulfillment of such a promise in the form of Fawkes. The price had not only included friendships but even that of individuals including that of a dark-haired young man, who no longer existed in this world, Credence Barebone.
Aberforth's grimace disappears as he once more falls into the depths of his memory. Their mother, Kendra Dumbledore was a fine woman. She had jet black hair that she wore in a high bun, dark eyes, high cheekbones, and a straight nose. Her face had a carved quality and was formally composed, but that was what had made her so beautiful to their father and them. Aye, she was a muggle born witch, but she had never allowed that to stop her. It never had not even at the end of her life.
Aberforth turns away and finds that Albus has his eyes closed and his lips tightly pressed together. For a moment, Aberforth has the urge to say that only now Albus regretted speaking against their father, when their father had done it all just to protect Ariana. However, the vile words die before they can reach his mouth. He could not wholly blame Albus and their father for he had too blamed their father at one point for abandoning them and their mother. In the end, their father had passed away in Azkaban, before ever reaching the end of his jail sentence.
After the attack, their mother, Kendra left their home in Mould-on-the-Wold and immediately moved to Godric's Hollow. Their mother became secretive and strict with them doing all in her power to ensure that Kendra's abnormal change was never discovered as not to be taken away and forever imprisoned at St. Mungo's. It was here where things began to change including Albus. Albus learned secrecy at their mother's knee, they all did. "Secrets and lies, that's how they grew." For they had to keep Ariana safe and quiet until it didn't.
Aberforth loudly moves to cause Albus to open his eyes having been pulled out of the reverie of the past. Without a single word, Aberforth leads the way through the kissing gate only pausing to fill it further ajar before entering the cemetery. Albus closely follows as they pass the rows upon rows of gray tombstones protruding from the frozen earth.
They come to a halt in front of three gray tombstones of Percival, Kendra, and Ariana Dumbledore. Beyond their names, the only other engraving on the plain tombs is the dates of their birth and death. There is no kind nor loving message on any of the graves before them. In the end, none of them had been capable to write such a thing having been filled with anger and overwhelming bitterness.
Reaching into his pocket, Aberforth removes a bouquet of shrunken flowers and taps them with his wand. "Engorgio," the flowers immediately grow to reveal white Daffodils with a warm yellow colored center. He gently lays the bouquet of flowers that is tied together by a white ribbon onto the grave of Ariana, before rising again.
After a moment, Albus quietly says, "Daffodils were always Ariana's favorite flowers."
"Yes," Aberforth grunted in reply. Neither mentioned the fact that it was Daffodil flowers that Ariana had gone out to pick the day of the tragedy. Daffodils were a rather ironic, double-meaning flower for the Dumbledore family. It was a flower that bore much resentment and love for them.
The two stood there for a long time in silence despite the cold, before Aberforth says, "It is late, and I've got a long day tomorrow. I best be heading back."
"Yes, for me as well," Albus said as he also turned to leave the family graves.
The two of them are silent for the remainder of the trip through the cemetery with Albus only pausing to close the kissing gate to the cemetery closed shut. Aberforth pauses for a moment, before grumbling, "You are still planning to come for the burning of the Yule log, Albus?"
A bit of Albus's usual twinkle returns to his gaze as he earnestly replies, "I very much am looking forward to it, Aberforth. I will be sure to arrive with a good roast and other tasty snacks that the house elves will be sure to cook up."
"Cheater," Aberforth huffed under his breath, before whirling away. "Don't be late," he snapped over his shoulder, before apparating away with a loud pop. He had better things to do with his time!
Albus is unable to hide a fond smile on his face as he watched his brother vanish into thin air. He would never tell Aberforth, but he truly admired his younger brother. Aberforth might be hot-headed and as stubborn as an old goat, but his heart was always true and sincere, a lion filled heart full of courage. He was a far better Gryffindor than Albus had ever been.
Albus stands still as if in thought, before vanishing as well back to Hogwarts. There were many things he had to do before the night was over. And they would be done with the aid of Fawkes, (all for the greater good).