Via reddits writing prompts: Dumbledore told the truth about seeing himself holding a pair of woolen socks when looking in the Mirror of Erised. This is the event that lead to that most desperate desire. **** Abe? The boy nearly jumped, and ink spilled all over the scroll in front of him. Sorry, Ariana, he said wearily. You startled me. Ariana entered the room with a hesitant smile. Are you working on something? she asked. Aberforth returned her smile; Ariana seemed to be in a good mood today. Nothing really, he told her. Do you want to come in? She nodded and sat down before opening her mouth again. Ive been thinking about Christmas, Ariana said. I didnt get anybody anything. We werent expecting anything, Aberforth reassured her. Ariana bit her lip and looked down. I guess thats how itll always be for me, she sighed. Aberforth took her hand in his and shook his head. Dont think like that, he said firmly. We love you. The girl nodded but didnt seem quite convinced. As Aberforth opened his mouth to console her, he noticed his worried brother at the door. He shook his head, indicating that Albus should stay out. He had a tendency to make these kinds of situations worse, especially with Ariana. Albus gave him a slight nod and retreated. I was thinking of socks, Ariana blurted out. Mum used to knit socks - maybe I could do it too? Everyone needs socks, Aberforth replied encouragingly. Did Mum show you how? As Ariana thought back to her mother, tears filled her eyes, but she swallowed hard and suppressed them. I think I could do it, Ariana said. Well then, Ill get you everything you need, Aberforth told her. And Ill expect some grand socks this December. Albus too, Ariana pointed out. Albus too, Aberforth agreed. Albus, who was still outside the room, smiled. After the guardianship of his siblings was thrust upon him, he had been worried. He didnt know how to calm Ariana down nor how to get through to his sullen younger brother. But when the two were together, Ariana was calm and Aberforth was cheerful. As long as Aberforth and Ariana had each other, they were all going to be okay. Suddenly, Albus heard the chairs moving across the wooden floor. He quickly ducked out of sight - he didnt want them to think he had intruded on their moment together. Eight months later It had been weeks since the duel, but it was the first time that Albus had been able to go into her room. Aberforth was long gone - where to, Albus didnt know, but he couldnt stop him. Now, all Albus had was this empty house and memories of his family. As he walked through the room, he suddenly heard a crack. He lifted his foot to find a now broken knitting needle on the floor. Albus picked it up and thought back to the conversation he had overheard. Aberforth had bought her wool and needles, and she had been so excited that she had immediately dumped a drawers worth of her belongings onto the floor and declared it her knitting drawer instead. Albus walked over to said drawer, intending to leave the broken needle inside. He didnt have the heart to just throw it away nor the will to repair it. Once he opened the drawer, however, he found himself unable to move. The beginnings of two pairs of wool socks were nestled inside, untouched since Ariana had last kept them there. Albus took the soft wool into his hands and, for the first time since they had buried Ariana, began to cry.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:29:40 +0000