With the moonlight shining through the window, Ian could see Albus Dumbledore's expression turning furious and hateful, clearly not just because of a letter and the photograph within it.
Thinking of the truths he uncovered from Albus Dumbledore's memories, Ian had some realization that this seemingly childish tussle might hide more complex and profound emotional entanglements.
The fight between the two brothers, rather than being over a letter and a photograph, was more like a long-suppressed emotional release, a settling of past grievances, or a struggle with some deeply buried secret. It must be noted that back then, it was Albus Dumbledore who bore everything.
He took on the responsibilities that a brother should.
However.
This great White Wizard didn't harbor any resentment towards his brother? Certainly not, he simply remained rational enough all along, burying and sealing his emotions deep within.
The photograph suspected to have been stolen by Aberforth was merely a trigger, and Aberforth's unreasonable direct action was a stimulus to peel off the scab from Albus Dumbledore's heart. Compared to Albus Dumbledore, Aberforth's restraint was not particularly remarkable.
Indeed.
Aberforth's direct attack on Albus Dumbledore was probably for similar reasons. In Aberforth's memories, it was Albus Dumbledore who caused Ariana's death, leading to many years of hatred towards Albus Dumbledore and even plotting his murder.
Perhaps now there's a certain compromise in their relationship.
But the hatred accumulated for many years is difficult to dissolve in a short time.
"Even now, Aberforth hasn't mentioned the Resurrection Stone. He really has a hard mouth. It's quite possible that he did steal the photo from the letter sent by Headmaster Dumbledore."
Ian watched the battle between the two centenarians with keen interest, and he also noticed that Aberforth never revealed the fake item he handed over. It's possible he believed that Albus Dumbledore obtained the letter because of the Resurrection Stone?
He's probably thinking of taking it back for secret study.
From this point of view.
This guy was convinced from the start that Albus Dumbledore wouldn't read his memories — very shrewd, with much more depth than his clumsy demeanor suggested.
"I wonder where he learned that the Resurrection Stone is with me." Ian watched as Albus Dumbledore sat down beside the soft-footed Aberforth, exhausted from the fight.
He saw Albus Dumbledore suddenly look up towards the door, his heart immediately tensed, his legs responding faster than his brain as he chose to escape on the spot. Even with the Illusionary Body Spell, he didn't feel safe, quickly darting out over ten meters, running straight towards the changing staircase.
Thankfully, he managed to jump onto the staircase just in time, and looking back, he didn't see Albus Dumbledore chasing after him, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief as he patted his loudly pounding heart.
"The old headmaster is still the old headmaster..." Ian wasn't really afraid that Albus Dumbledore would silence him, he just wanted to avoid the hassle of dealing with the old man's insistence that he was just passing by. As Ian rode the changing staircase downwards, planning to head to Hogwarts' kitchen for something to eat and calm his nerves.
In the Owl Shed.
"Just now, there was some trouble outside."
The speaker wasn't Albus Dumbledore, but Aberforth lying on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, his voice weak and with a bit of a lisp, as if on the verge of passing out. This was clearly because Aberforth's tongue had been swollen by Albus Dumbledore's blows.
"I know."
Albus Dumbledore, sitting on the ground and gasping for breath, clearly worn out from the previous brawl, had the Elder Wand hanging from his knee down to the hay-strewn ground. Looking back at the drooling Aberforth, Albus Dumbledore tossed a bottle of Magic Potion his way.
"Glug glug glug~"
Feeling like he was about to faint, Aberforth quickly mustered all his strength to grab the Magic Potion and gulp it down, not suspecting that Albus Dumbledore might have poisoned it.
"You mentioned that there was a mouse in your school, was that a mouse just now?" Aberforth's face remained bruised and swollen, but he spoke a little more fluently.
He had the strength to prop himself up and sit. The anger and rage from the fight had vanished, and his gaze towards Albus Dumbledore had calmed significantly.
"No."
Albus Dumbledore, disheveled and lacking any dignity, was poking at the hay on the ground with the Elder Wand, his deep eyes reflecting the pattern he was drawing in the earth.
The mark of the Three Sacred Artifacts.
"Just some Little Wizard wandering around in the school at night... it's quite common." Albus Dumbledore replied casually, without turning to meet Aberforth's eyes.
He seemed to answer Aberforth's curiosity quite nonchalantly. Clearly, even with the protection of the Illusionary Body Spell, Ian hadn't escaped Albus Dumbledore's perception.
However.
This headmaster of Hogwarts apparently had no intention of telling Aberforth the whole truth. Perhaps, as he said, there were things he still didn't want the emotionally fragile Aberforth to know.