【GGAD ABO】Nirvana

"He proposed." Aberforth repeated dryly. "But, you, declined?" He smiled a few times, "You - declined?"

"Shut up, Aberforth," Ariana said, taking Albus's cold hand, "—Mr. Grindelwald proposed, didn't he? Why didn't you say yes to him?"

"I'm not right for him," said Albus, knowing that such a feeble explanation sounded like compensation for his shattered self-esteem. He tried his best to sound calm, even with a sense of humor, and he used the other Hand clasped Aberforth's wrist, "Not every sock can find a matching one, and the same goes for people."

"When the socks were knitted, they were obviously one pair, two!" Aberforth's arm twitched, as if he was about to shake off Albus' fingers, but he finally endured, "Okay, one sock Yeah, I can't find my socks, and they're always in pairs before I wash them." He grunted a few times, "So—what to do? You can't spoil your body, Albus. Even if You've got the brightest brains, and you can't mess around. Mom won't forgive you if you go to Merlin with a stomachache, Arianna!"

Arianna withdrew her hand, "Mom always said that pinching you is to make you remember. No matter how nonsense you talk, mom will never forgive you."

The three of them huddled together on the bed, passing body temperature to each other.Leaning on Albus' shoulder, Ariana used her wand to conjure a string of small silver stars, dancing on her fingertips. "Remember? When I was a little girl, you used to put me to sleep like this." She said softly, "I leaned on you like this."

"In my heart, you will always be a little girl." Albus said, his sister's hands were soft and warm, and her blond hair smelled of roses. "If you don't go back tonight, won't Annie cry?"

"She's going to learn to grow up," Ariana said with a smile, "tonight her mother is going to be a little girl all night."

"Your story about washing the dirty goat by magic is good, you used to tell it to me," Aberforth buzzed, "but I still insist that children should not listen to Beedle the Bard, he Dark magic is hidden between the lines."

"Aberforth," Albus squeezed his brother's wrist, "promise me not to go find him."

"Him? Who? Oh—" Aberforth snorted distastefully, "that bastard, I'm not going to him...why am I going to him? It's Christmas time, isn't it? I haven't had time to cut down the Christmas tree yet." .Did Albert get a Christmas tree?" He twisted and rubbed his body, "According to the rules, we have to catch a few fairies as decorations, but this winter is so cold—"

"He's asleep," Arianna said. "He's very ill...Let's leave him alone."

But sleeping Albus still held his brother and sister tightly in his hands.They had to stay with him in awkward positions for hours.In the morning, Albus woke up once, drank the soup, and took the potion.Ariana offered to bring Annie to Hogwarts for Christmas with feigned blitheness, an offer he calmly declined.

"I'm still going back to Godric's Hollow for Christmas this year," said Albus. "You don't have to move...I hear you all."

Ariana looks like she's swallowed a pint of strong vinegar, rubbing her hands on her apron. "Annie has always wanted to come to Hogwarts, she showed her magical abilities... before I did, and now she rides around the room on a miniature broomstick all day, and the walls are filthy smeared with paint that she smeared. Albert said all the walls were going to be repainted, so I thought—"

"No," Albus smiled gently, "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

On Christmas Eve, because of Albus's physical condition, he was unable to attend the Christmas Eve Mass in the church.He was settled on the sofa and watched Ariana and Albert rush in and out.Anne circled the Christmas tree, screaming, "I—want—presents!"

"The gift can only be opened tomorrow morning." Arianna nodded her daughter's little nose, "Oh, dear, you have three freckles on the tip of your nose."

Annie rushed up to Albus, roaring, "I - have - freckles -"

"Pretty." Albus rubbed her little head.At this moment, Aberforth crawled out of the fireplace and accidentally bumped his head. "I can't find the fairy!" he yelled, "It's too cold...we can catch a few goblins to make up the numbers like others do."

"If you're not afraid of the floor being knocked over, go grab it." Arianna threw the rag and put on a serious face. "She looks so much like our mother," Aberforth sat down, and the sofa creaked. "Maybe she will look more and more like...you're going to be in trouble, little girl," he hugged Annie, "When you can wear a skirt in the future, your mother will chase after you, holding up a ruler, 'Not even an inch shorter!'"

Albus had no luck at the Christmas Eve dinner. He could only eat porridge and soup and a little soft bread.There wasn't even butterbeer on the table, and Anne got a small glass of cider.After dinner, Aberforth helped him back upstairs to the bedroom.Albus believed that Ariana or someone had cast a Permanent Adhesive Charm on the curtains, that the piece of fabric stuck to the window glass as neatly as stiff gift-wrapping paper.The wind and snow howled, knocking on the window edge.He huddled under the quilt in a daze, missing the cold, bitter sweetness of mints very much.But needless to say, his dear little sister had checked every nook and cranny of the room to make sure not a single piece of mint was left behind.

After an unknown number of hours, Albus woke up and heard all the noises.A warm little hand caressed his face back and forth, "You smell sweet, but you are thin." Annie was wearing a cute nightdress, a nightcap on her head, and stuck out her two rabbit ears, "You Why don't you eat steak?"

"My stomach is sick, and the therapist won't let me eat steak." Albus lit the oil lamp, opened the bed, and let her in.The little girl sat in his arms, stroking Albus's flat abdomen earnestly, "Uncle Albus, can you give me a little sister?"

Albus froze, "This... sorry, Annie, I can't give you a baby sister."

"Why?" Anne raised her small face, her blue eyes sparkling, "will you give me a little sister to keep me company? I can play with my favorite doll and tin soldiers for her. Tin soldiers can walk in procession, One-two-three, one-two-three—Aberforth sent me a new doll that sings and is so cute."

"I'm not going to get married, so I can't have a baby sister for you," said Albus, his lips quivering. "I'll buy you a big doll...a doll your age, how about?"

"Um... alright." Annie pouted. "Albus, let's open Christmas presents."

Presents were piled at the foot of the bed, and Albus was in no mood to examine them.This task was given to Anne, she opened a gold and red box, "Oh, it's a hat." She handed the card to Albus, and Albus flipped through it, "Dorje gave it to me...he is My best friend from school."

Soon, the little girl opened all the boxes.Most of them were books, and people always thought that the most suitable gift for Albus Dumbledore was a book, including Mrs. Marchban's nephew.Several animal figures and a fine quill made from the tail feathers of a villain bird, from Newt Scamander.In addition, Nick Flamel sent a set of rare magical ores, and Slughorn's gift was a gift bag of candied fruit. "It's boring." Annie sat on the edge of the bed, shaking her legs drooping, "...Didn't Mr. Germany give you a present?"

Gellert had already sent Christmas presents, so there was no need to send them again.Albus didn't want to mention him, so he opened the candied fruit and gave it to Anne.She grabbed the piece of candied pineapple and licked it. "Mom said there was a relationship—you didn't give Geliot a present, so he lost his temper again and didn't send you a present?"

She was still young and often couldn't pronounce Gellert's name correctly, Albus sniffled and tried to smile, "Yeah, I didn't give him a Christmas present...I don't think he needs my Christmas present either... ...Someone will give him a gift, and it doesn't matter if it's not mine..."

Annie took a small bite of the candied fruit, "Albus?" She tilted her head suspiciously, "Why are you crying?"