How completely brilliant! Though the idea of this pairing had occurred to me before, I'd never, ever seen it written... but what a wonderful job you've made of it. For a story about two gruff, wounded, taciturn men, the story is really very humane and oddly tender, resonant with all the words left unsaid, yet clearly demonstrated.
I must confess that although the setup for the climactic "scapegoating" was perfect, I was still utterly stunned by it. What a clever and original way to resurrect Severus--not to mention explaining the story behind those "improper charms" on the goat. :-)
He'd had his share of cast-offs in his life, worn out clothing and broken toys. Albus never was careful with his things. If nothing else, it had made Aberforth a fair hand at mending.
Everybody is singling out how fantastic this line is, and with good reason. In a story filled with great lines, this one stands out, poignant and revealing. It tells us so much about all three men: Albus the careless, Severus the cast-off, Aberforth the mender of broken things, spotter of virtue in unlikely places.