Twist of Fate

Chapter 26

They landed with a swirl in color in the alleyway. There was a faint dusting of snow on the ground and a cold breeze whistling through the alley. Harry loosened his grip around Draco's waist, but kept his arm casually around his waist. "Why don't we have a drink in the Hog's Head before going up? I'll send a Patronus to McGonagall to warn her we'll be coming."

"Hog's Head?" Draco shook his head, "No, not there."

"Why not?" Harry looked at him puzzled.

Draco looked at him like the answer was obvious, "Aberforth Dumbledore."

"Aberforth is a good man."

"I went to trial for trying to kill his brother, Harry!"

"But he heard the truth along with the rest of us, besides he knew that his brother was dying-"

"I still-"

"Trust me, it will be okay. Aberforth, more than anyone, understands skeletons in one's closet." Harry said. Drawing his wand he cast his patronus and the stag went galloping out of the alley and towards HogwartsCastle. "Come on."

Draco entered hesitantly behind Harry, Aberforth Dumbledore looked up at them as they entered.

"Harry. Didn't think we would be seeing the likes of you anytime soon."

"Hi Aberforth, you remember Draco?"

"Right. Draco Malfoy." Aberforth nodded. "What's your poison?"

Draco jerked and would have turned back through the door but Harry grabbed his hand and wouldn't let him leave, "Not funny, Aberforth. We'll both have a firewhisky, Ogden's."

Aberforth pointed his head towards the stool seats, "Sit down then, don't stand there gawking like first years." He placed three glasses on the bar and with a practiced hand poured three measures. He slid two towards Draco and Harry and picked up the third for himself. Holding up his glass he said, "To a normal life."

Harry laughed and shook his head, "To a normal life." and took a sip of his whiskey.

Draco looked at them both, "What am I missing?"

Harry smiled, "A couple of days after the battle I snuck in here in my cloak to talk to Aberforth. Whinged at him about how all I wanted was to be normal, to live a normal life. And he," Harry tipped his glass at Aberforth, "Gave me the chewing out that I needed. Told me to get off my arse and accept and move on." Harry looked at Aberforth, "I would have done well to remember that more this last year."

"That you would have, but from the looks of it you finally have figured it out." Aberforth eyed them both, "Going up to the castle, are you?"

Harry nodded, "Just sent word to McGonagall that we were coming."

"Going to see Dumbledore's portrait, too?" Aberforth asked as he pulled out a bar rag that may have been clean a decade or two ago and started polishing a glass.

Harry started tracing the grain pattern in the wood. "Maybe not this trip. I need to read his letter, yet."

"Harry." Aberforth shook his head, "Don't draw it out too long, son. I understand that this isn't that kind of trip." He glanced at Draco, "You need to settle things with Albus eventually."

Harry nodded, "I know. I'll do it, just not today. We should be going. Good to see you, Aberforth." He stood up and threw back the rest of the firewhiskey. Draco left his sitting on the bar and walked out with Harry.

"What was that about? Dumbledore?"

Harry nodded. "I still have a few issues with him. But," he shrugged. "I think that will probably come around, too."