True Love

The ~parents~

Albus was enjoying his holiday far more than he had enjoyed returning to his own house during the holidays for years. The relationship between his parents was fraught, characterized by frequent fights with him and his siblings caught in the middle.

"You ok?" Gellert questioned, leaning closer to his boyfriend to examine the far off look in his eyes.

Albus startled, jumping back ever so slightly before he realised it was only Gellert and settled back down.

Gellert frowned, overwhelming concern quickly clouding his eyes.

Albus put his hands up, "No, no, don't worry I'm fine. I was just thinking."

Gellert chuckled, "Thinking? That's dangerous." As he reached out and grabbed Albus' hands in his own.

Albus pouted but made no move to take his hands back as he protested, "Hey don't be mean!"

"Only joking." Gellert quickly acquiesced, "Although I do want to know what you were thinking about, you seemed very far away."

Albus shifted almost guiltily under Gellert's watchful eyes, "It's nothing important!"

Gellert raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend, waiting for the Gryffindor to continue.

"Ok, ok, I was thinking about my family." Albus muttered, not looking up at his boyfriend.

Gellert looked away, withdrawing his hands into his lap, "You would rather be there."

Albus shook his head quickly, a sharp laugh forcing its way out of his throat, "Not at all! I do miss Aberforth and Ariana... well worry about them more accurately, but I wouldn't give this time up for the world. I certainly don't miss hearing my parent's fight over everyone and everything, that's for sure."

Gellert turned back, a soft look on his face, "There's no reason we can't see them without your parents knowing you're home. My aunt mentioned a while ago that she had seen Ariana out in the garden at night, perhaps you can somehow meet with them then?"

Albus looked thoughtful, "I think mother takes her out in the garden at night so the neighbours don't find out, but there's no reason I can't get hold of Aberforth somehow and get him to bring her. After all, during the day Aberforth is often left in charge of babysitting."

Gellert nodded confidently, "See you can meet them for a few hours before we go back to school, then we deal with your parents another time."

Albus smiled and shifted on the sofa to lie down with his head in Gellert's lap. Gellert smiled softly and slid his hands into Albus' hair, playing with it gently as Albus began to tell Gellert tales from when the Dumbledore's had been children before Arian's tragic accident.

Albus had been half-dozing for a while, content to snuggle into Gellert's warmth, the hands playing with his hair relaxing him even further.

Suddenly, Gellert's voice broke through the comfortable silence.

"It's almost 4 o'clock. If you want to catch Aberforth alone we have to go now."

Albus opened his eyes blearily and frowned at the clock as if it had done something wrong.

"Can it wait until tomorrow?" He murmured sleepily.

"Nope. Come on, you'll thank me for this later." Gellert replied with an amused twinkle in his eye, pushing Albus upright regardless of the other wizard's complaints.

Albus grumbled quietly to himself, but he sat up obediently, rubbing his eyes and stretching slightly to pop his back.

Gellert smiled as he watched his boyfriend, ready to leave the house as soon as Albus was.