Greater than Good (Grindeldore 1899)

Chapter 1. The Future is (un)certain

It was a nice and quiet little funeral. Mostly because Albus and his brother didn't say a word to each other. But also because not a lot of people in the village took a liking to Kendra Dumbledore. That is to say, only Bathilda Bagshot did. Thank heavens that she was the one that found Kendra's lifeless body. Everyone else, the handful of people that attended the funeral, gathered to see the neighbour they didn't get to see much while still alive. A surprise was a daughter they only heard rumours about. Ariana's appearance raised more questions than gave answers. She didn't leave her brothers' side for a minute. Her worn light blue dress she's constantly tugging, her brown hair braided sloppily*. The brothers, in contrast, were well put together. With their nicest three-piece suits and shiny leather shoes. The sole thing that could've raised an eyebrow was Albus's a little dishevelled auburn chin-length hair. Their eyes weren't puffy. They didn't cry. They were too shocked to.

Aberforth put a posy of lavender, Dumbledore family flower, on Kendra's casket as she was lowered. The brothers held their sister by the hands as their mother's gravehole was filled with dirt.

They walked all the way from the cemetery in the same silence. It wasn't a particularly long walk, but Albus had time to think over his entire past, present, and future. Everything is not going how he was planning it to go.

It was supposed to be a special day for him, the day Kendra Dumbledore died. Finishing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, a start of his independent life, his grand tour through Europe, with essentially his only true friend Elphias Doge scheduled in a couple of days. Becoming a legal guardian of his siblings wasn't anywhere on the list.

Bathilda Bagshot said her goodbyes as she walked a little further to her home. "I'll leave you, boys, on your own for a while. By all means, don't be afraid to reach out if you need help, but I think it would be for the better for you to figure everything out on your own." She quickly glanced at Ariana, who was first making her way to the Dumbledore house of her siblings and murmured. "Ariana can be a handful. I can't always be there to help you. You have to learn how to take care of her and yourselves on your own."

When Ariana was laid to bed, the brothers sat in the dining room, which now seemed so cold and empty. The table with two simple wooden chairs and a brown settee pushed against the wall. Two more chairs stood by one of the grey walls. They sat full of deep sadness that not even the most eloquent Albus could put into words.

He didn't get to say goodbye. He needs her now more than ever. He needs her advice, her word of knowledge. Though he knows what she'd say. She'd said it before. She wasn't ever angry at either of the siblings, but when Albus didn't leave his room for a little too long last summer, she told him. She warned him. "There will come a day when you won't be able to close your bedroom door and escape your family. When you will be head of the house. When your family will be your responsibility. So you better learn to live with the people you're trying so hard to avoid now or you won't be able to take care of them if the time comes. You're their elder brother, Albus, you ought to be setting an example." These words were ringing in his head now.

After a long time, Aberforth spoke. "Go on the trip."

"I cannot. You know I cannot. My place is here now."

Aberforth snorted.

"I am now head of the house. The only adult in here. It's my responsibility to take care of you two." Albus repeated his late mother's words.

Aberfort gave Albus a side eye. Neither of them wanted to argue, but Albus knew what Aberforth wanted but didn't say. The slightest twitch in his lip gave away his mistrust to Albus

"I'll do better. I can be a family person." Albus tried to convince Aberforth but was also trying to convince himself.

"All right." That was all Aberforth said, though neither of them believed in the sincerity of this statement. Then he stood and left the room. "Good night."

Albus stayed in the empty room much longer. The grey walls simultaneously too distant and compressing him.

-

* (info dumping about historical fashion) in the whole of the 19th century and later it was not appropriate for children (and usually adult women too) to be with their hair loose. So Albus and Aberforth would've had to at least try to put Ariana's hair up (even if there is a spell for it it's not like they'd know it or be good at it).
I know this is the wizarding world, and not everything has to be like in the real one. BUT the old pictures shown in the Deathly Hallows movie (For ex. the one of Albus and Gellert) show them in era-appropriate clothing. so I'm taking that as proof that wizards and witches in 1899 dressed like the muggles.