Aberforth opens the door after the fifth demanding knock.
Gellert Grindelwald is standing there, his expression blurry.
Aberforth: *sourly* What do you want?
Gellert is very obviously drunk so it takes him a second to focus on the younger boy before him.
Gellert: He is much more handsome than you, little brother. But do not fret, you too will grow into a handsome young man.
Gellert: Now where is Albus? Lead me to him.
Aberforth: *visibly annoyed* He doesn’t want to see you!
Gellert: Nonsense.
Grindelwald walks past Aberforth and goes up the stairs - he’s been in the Dumbledore family house enough times to know exactly where to find his friend.
Gellert: Here you are.
Albus is sitting on the floor of his bedroom surrounded by books and parchments.
He takes a closer look. His expression changes from surprised to cold.
Gellert: This is no way to treat a guest.
Albus keeps quiet and doesn’t take his eyes off his book for a while, completely ignoring his friend.
Gellert: I know you’re not reading that.
Gellert sits down right in front of him, he is not planning on leaving.
Gellert: Well here I am. Know me.
Albus: You are very focused on this...search for the Hallows. And I understand that, Merlin, if anyone understands, Gellert, it's me.
Albus tries to seem distant and avoids eye contact in an attempt to stay on track.
Gellert interrupts his friend feeling a wave of panic rise in him at what Albus is going to say next.
Albus: I think you’d be better off continuing the search and rallying for the cause without me. I- I’ll just...
Albus falls silent and looks away.
Gellert comes a bit closer.
Gellert: Look at me, Albus.
When his friend’s eyes remain glued to the floor, Grindelwald takes his hand - fingers cold but sure.
Gellert: We could be so much more together.
Gellert looks confounded.
Albus: You’ll have to leave, Gellert…
Gellert: Albus, I-
Albus: Please. Just leave.
young Albus Dumbledore played by the one and only @space-marauder
Albus and Gellert are in the library again, one hunched over a massive book, the other pouring over a wall pasted with various notes and articles that connect with one another in a way only the two young men could understand. Albus looks up from his book with contained frustration.
Sighing, he removes his glasses, tossing them aside onto the table, and rubs his temples. There is a sliver of daylight streaming through the dark curtains that cover the window, as always; and Albus gazes out at the clear, bright summers day for a moment, before deciding to break the silence.
Gellert doesn’t turn from his pondering stance, still looking at the book in his hands not paying much attention to the other man’s words. Albus waits a moment before his patience runs out.
Albus: Surely. Even if only to… clear our minds, if you will.
Gellert finally looks up from his findings, considering whether he should try to convince Albus to stay (something he found himself to be particularly good at) but then decides against it. After all his friend has a point. He takes some “light reading” with him as he follows Albus out of the house.
It is scorching hot outside as they walk quietly towards the park near the graveyard, Gellert’s favourite place in Godric’s Hollow.They sit down in the shadow of an old oak and Grindelwald flicks through his book, trying to find something that would keep his mind busy.
But he can’t focus. Not in this heat. His gaze wanders over the book, falling onto the young man in front of him.
Gellert: *raises an eyebrow* What then?
Albus hesitates, stalling as he pulls at a loose thread on his sleeve. His eyes briefly flicker over to Gellerts before he averts them again. He furrows his brow as his head tilts slightly, uncertain of how Gellert will react if he asks what’s on his mind.
However, his curiosity regarding the man in fort of him wins out over his fear of what he might uncover, and he starts to ask.
Albus: Well, I suppose I- *he looks up, finally meeting and holding Gellert’s intense gaze, and continues, lost in a daze for a moment* ...you.
Gellert cuts it short and closes his book in what seems to be a slightly annoyed manner - it is hard to know whether it is the hot weather to blame for the frustration in his voice or the question his friend decided to ask.
He stares at the other young man defiantly.
Gellert feels like there is always a catch when other people show interest in him like this and he wonders whether his friend has heard of the Durmstrang rumors about him. His next question comes off more as a demand.
Albus looks incredulously at Gellert for a long moment, slightly taken aback. He lets out a humorless laugh.
Albus: Forgive me for wanting to- *struggles for a second, searching for the right words* understand you more. For wanting to know where you came from.
Albus: ...for caring too much. Gellert, I—
He falls silent again for a long moment before beginning to stand up.
Albus looks back over his shoulder at where his house is stood, taunting him. How foolish it was of him to get wrapped up in some sort of impossible fantasy where he could actually break free from everything and find happiness with someone. Even if only for a second.
Grindelwald doesn’t say anything as Albus springs to his feet and rushes away.
So this is how he’s going to play? Gellert smirks to himself.
To be continued...
Young Albus Dumbledore played by the perfect @space-marauder
