HP: The Dropout Who Saved the World

Something felt off.

As Jane Yu crawled out of the tunnel with Fawkes in her arms, she felt unnerved by the way the two elderly men were staring at her. The feeling reminded her of being caught red-handed by parents while sneaking forbidden treats.

But why were they looking at her with such guilty expressions?

All she'd done was take a trip to Hogwarts, hadn't she?

"Um... good evening?" She perched on the fireplace, greeting them awkwardly.

Studying Dumbledore's expression carefully, Jane noticed complexity in his left eye, guilt in his right, and traces of tears on his face... had he been crying?

His lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated, glancing helplessly at his brother.

Fawkes saved him from the awkward moment when it started brawling with the carved owl that had squeezed into Jane's arms - feathers flew everywhere as angry screeches filled the Hog's Head.

He had no choice but to separate them and attempt to calm both birds.

"Now she's back, control your bloody bird, Albus!" Aberforth roughly pushed him aside. "Let me talk to the child. By rights, she's my niece... though perhaps with a few 'greats' before it?"

He cursed under his breath about the confounded generations, his resentment toward his fool of a brother growing stronger.

With this hundred-year age gap, he couldn't even figure out what the child should call him!

Treating her like delicate crystal, Aberforth carefully escorted her back to her room and settled into an armchair by the bed.

"Child," he said, forcing a smile, "perhaps you'd care for a bedtime story?"

Jane's feet fidgeted restlessly under the covers.

She'd been caught sneaking out, yet oddly, no one had asked where she'd been or how she'd gotten there. Besides, wasn't she past the age for bedtime stories?

But seeing Aberforth's painful attempt at a smile, she nodded anyway.

"I had a sister. When she was six, three Muggle boys attacked her..."

"They destroyed her - she was never right after that... My father went after them and ended up in Azkaban..."

"Later, when she was fourteen, her Obscurus... her condition flared up again, and my mother... was killed..."

What a tragic tale, Jane thought as she listened.

"Albus... he never bothered with her care. Always holed up in his room, reading his precious books, corresponding with famous magical masters, dreaming of gallivanting around the world with his friends." Aberforth spat bitterly. "Then with both parents gone, he had to stay home and care for a half-mad sister - until that person showed up."

Jane knew exactly who - one of the key players in Dumbledore's web of manufactured friendships.

"Grindelwald." Aberforth's face contorted with loathing. "They became best... friends, always plotting their grand new wizarding order. He wanted to drag Ariana along. I'd had enough... We argued, and he used the Cruciatus Curse on me. Albus tried to stop him."

"So the three of us dueled, which set my sister off..."

"I don't know whose spell did it - could've been any of us - but she died."

Jane watched his face, now streaked with tears and ashen, as if reliving a mortal wound.

But she couldn't fathom why he was sharing this painful history with her now.

Perhaps he simply needed someone to listen after bottling it up for so long?

She listened in silence as Aberforth fell quiet.

As his emotions settled, he mentally cursed his brother again.

Damn Albus, dumping his mess in his lap, forcing him to speak well of him to the child!

The old one had tormented him his whole life, and now, with one foot in the grave, he had to create a younger version to torment him for whatever years he had left!

"So you see," he forced another smile at Jane, "my brother regrets his poor judgment in friendship. He fears the same might happen to you, so..."

He recalled what his brother had told him about Jane and that diary - Tom Riddle - plus those Slytherin invitation letters, and felt his headache intensifying.

Like father, like daughter indeed!

After hearing it all, Jane finally grasped his purpose.

He was playing messenger for Dumbledore, his precious brother!

Aberforth caught the shift in her expression and immediately spotted her displeasure.

"Mind you, I'm not here to speak for him," he pivoted sharply. "I understand exactly how you feel. You've seen the real Albus Dumbledore, not the saint those dunderheads think radiates light from every pore."

"Hah!" He snorted derisively. "The greatest wizard of our age... Whenever I dare show anger, they assume I'm jealous of his achievements. As if they know Albus better than his own brother!"

He fixed Jane with a steady gaze, more determined than ever to prevent his brother from ruining another young life.

"I know you hate his controlling nature - he must have meddled in plenty of your plans and friendships-"

"But understand this - you're your own person. You owe him nothing, least of all responsibility for his grand schemes."

Rising to his feet, he brightened the lights and made Jane a promise:

"Do what you want to do. Don't let him frighten you. I've got your back!"

Jane asked curiously:

"Even if what I do angers him enough to expel me?"

To her surprise, Aberforth waved dismissively and began laying out his strategy:

"Haven't you noticed what gets under his skin? Those invitation letters you received - did he approve of any?"

"Attend a few of those meetings and he'll work himself into such a state, he might remove you from Hogwarts himself-"

His sharp gaze softened as he winked conspiratorially.

"Once he realizes he can't mold you to fit his grand plan, he'll sign your release."

"But remember - guardianship can be transferred, and wizards have the right to educate children at home-"

"And I," he emphasized, "am a wizard quite skilled at home education, if you take my meaning?"

Wizard families could homeschool their children instead of sending them to school?

Jane suddenly recalled Dumbledore mentioning that wizard parents had the right to homeschool their children or send them abroad to study.

In that moment, everything crystallized - her thoughts expanded, her perspective widened.

She never would have guessed Aberforth would become her ally!

His promise had given her exactly the reassurance she needed.

"Thank you!" she said with genuine gratitude.

The old man strolled away humming contentedly.

He had saved a vulnerable child!

Protected her fragile spirit!

And best of all - he had outmaneuvered Albus!

Victory had never tasted sweeter!