OK. I know you were all waiting for the Aberforth slash, right?
And if you weren't, well, this story will teach you better. This is one of the finest stories of the fest season to date.
Title: Goat Song
Pairing: Aberforth/Snape
Rating: NC 17
Warning: nope. Except a warning for outstanding writing
Summary: A tragedy in five scenes.
Mostly, I just want to squee and blubber and burble. Rather than give, you know, a coherent story summary or something.
This story builds on DH to flesh Aberforth out in ways that made my jaw drop. It was that perfectly done. It weaves in and out of the timeline we now have for Snape, to show Aberforth as a critical spectator to Albus' use (and abuse) of Snape. The story is tight, beautifully written and plotted, and does a note-perfect job of character development with both Snape and Aberforth. And, around the edges, with Albus, too. The magic is very clever, and the ending is lovely.
Be sure to put this on your Smutmas "to read" list. It's very fine.