Aberforth Dumbledore

I didn't bend my neck to Gellert Grindelwald, I'm certainly not about to do so to some insolent upstart who doesn't even have the courage or dignity to use his real name. Or show us his face.

And if any of his equally cowardly lackeys want to take that up with me, you know where I am.

Or you could just go to Nurmengard and ask dear old Gellert why he was so damn wary of me.

So. Is the Ministry planning on compensating me for the loss of business I'm suffering? Most especially from the law-abiding, peaceful vampires who used to come to my pub for a quiet drink and a bit of erudite conversation. Vampires who are now convinced that the wizarding world is full of bigoted and prejudiced close-minded folk. To be perfectly honest, I'm struggling to convince them otherwise nor do I feel much motivation to do so because I happen to think they're right.

At least they know it was none of my doing. That I had to be dragged into it kicking and screaming. It's prejudicial and disgusting as far as I'm concerned and I'm ashamed to be a part of it, even unwillingly.

Though it hasn't been all bad. A couple of vampires who used to come in here have told me that if I ever get sick of the tripe the Ministry chooses to dish out, they'd be more than happy to bankroll a pub in the Muggle world where I wouldn't be subject to such asinine laws. I'm sorely tempted to shut up shop here and take them up on that offer.

Excuse me?

Are they trying to drive people like me out of business? I run a pub. I can't close before dusk. I might as well not open at all. And pity anyone running or working in a restaurant.

So. Where's the paperwork? I'll be at the Ministry first thing tomorrow morning - along with every other pub and restaurant owner - so you'd better be ready with it. And this had better be done before the 7th or I and every other pub and restaurant in Britain will have to close its doors.

Didn't think about that, did you? Lots of perfectly normal and legal entertainment on the line here, not to mention a fair number of jobs.

[Warded Private]

Happy birthday to me. Ninety-six. Who'd have thought when I was running around Europe like a lunatic after Gellert that'd I'd live past thirty, let alone make it to four years shy of one hundred. I'm not sure what to make of it myself.

So many regrets. Far too many regrets and not just the obvious ones that revolve around Ariana. Regrets about my life and the way I've lived it. I've been too much alone but damned if I know how to change it now. I think Father would be disappointed that the Dumbledore line will die with Albus and me. Not that Albus was ever likely to continue it but I could have. It's not as though I never had my chances. I wonder what kind of father I would have been.

[/Ward]

( [Warded Private] )

[Warded to Severus]

How are you, lad? I've seen your mother here and there. Can I assume the two of you have moved?

[/Ward]

[Warded to Regulus Black]

I understand from Edgar that you've agreed to learn Occlumency. I think the first question I should ask is have you had any previous training or done any reading on the subject?

The second question is what times would be most convenient for training and do you have any preferences as to where?

[/Ward]

[Warded to Severus]

Oh bugger it. I'm tired of beating around the bush

Alright there, lad? How's your friend Regulus? Recovering well?

[/Ward]

The ubiquitous 'they' say that a change is as good as a holiday. Since I have neither the time nor the inclination for a holiday, it seems that a change is the thing to do.

( Wave wand to see picture )

( [Warded to Severus] )

[Warded Private]

Well, that wasn't as bad as it could have been. Whoever did the research didn't look beyond the obvious. Good. Too many damned skeletons in the Dumbledore closet to want anyone to start digging around. Bad enough that they brought up Father's foolishness.

No, that's unfair. It was foolish but I wanted to do the same damn thing, I just couldn't leave Ariana at the time. Father's pureblood roots just got the better of him. And of course we couldn't tell anyone the reason why he did it. We would have lost Ariana. They would have taken her to St Mungos and locked her away. She wouldn't have lasted a year in there. It would have been like locking up a bird.

Though I keep wondering if perhap they could have helped her. Could she have been helped? Should we have taken that risk?

Stop it. Rehashing this ground is never good for you. Leave it be.

[/Ward]


My parents did like saddling us with an over-preponderence of names.

( [Warded Private] )

[Warded to Severus Snape]

Checking in, lad. My business is done and I am home. Thank you for your help.

[/Ward]

( [Warded Private] )

( [Warded to Severus Snape] )

( [Warded Private] )

I have been cleaning out my attic of late. I can't believe the amount of junk I have stored up there. It seems my solution to what to do with something I'm not sure what to do with is to shove it up in the attic and forget about it. I can't even work out what some of the things up there are, let alone what they do.

In fact there's so much up there it's a wonder the floor hasn't caved in and sent the whole lot crashing down through the upstairs rooms and into the pub itself, causing a terrible catastrophe and a lack of alcohol in the village of Hogsmeade.

( [Warded Private] )

( [Warded Private] )

[Warded Private]

Not a bad Christmas. Would have been a hell of a lot worse if Marcus and the rest hadn't turned up. Probably would have brooded and drank too much. Still drank too much but at least it was while having fun. I still managed to spend some time at Ariana's grave and told her what I've been up to since the last time I spoke to her. Not much really but she always liked to know what I'd been doing.

I miss her all the time but even more so at Christmas. She loved Christmas so much. It wasn't the decorations or even the presents so much as having the family there and everyone just having fun. I guess that's why I make the effort to go up and spend some time with Albus at Christmas. I managed to repress the urge to punch him in the nose again this year. Always a good thing.

[/Ward]

[Warded to Addie, Greta and Meredith]

Thank you for the cookies, my dears. They were very much appreciated and very delicious.

[/Ward]

To anyone planning on attending the Hog's Head on New Year's Eve - given that this year's party coincides with the full moon, those being thrown out won't go out the front door but will instead be thrown out through the floo into whatever destination I feel so moved to send them to at the time. And I know some very unpleasant destinations.

( [Warded Private] )

According to my dictionary, a beast is defined as 'any animal other than a human. (Emphasis is mine.)

The gross indecency of the Wizengamot offends me enormously. No werewolf will ever be treated like a beast by me, only ever with the dignity and respect that any human deserves.

( [Warded Private] )


Long hair and beards – Passé or a good look on an old man. Discuss.

[Warded to the DMLE - charmed to ring until answered]

As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there sounds like there is a pack of dogs raging around outside in Hogsmeade and given the circumstances I suspect they're not dogs.

[/Ward]

[Warded to the Order]

We appear to have a slight werewolf problem in Hogsmeade. Find somewhere safe if you're anywhere nearby. Use apparition please.

[/Ward]

( [Warded Private] )



Now isn’t that just the cutest thing ever. And she’s mine. She’s coming to stay with me and keep the old girl company. She’s a pygmy domestic goat for anyone who was wondering.

( [Warded Private] )

I recently read a book that referred to 'the golden years of childhood' and I had to put it down. I couldn't continue to read it. Is it a common thing, I wonder, to only selectively remember the good things about one's childhood and forget the bad? I can't do that. I've never been able to. The good and the bad seem to go so closely hand in hand that to forget the bad would be to forget or diminish the good and I would never want to do that.

( [Warded Private] )