Greater than Good (Grindeldore 1899)

Chapter 3. Every Saturday Afternoon (Part 1)

Saturday came and The Dumbledore home was awaiting weekly their visit by Bathilda Bagshot. The only thing, it seemed, that stayed the same. It has become even more of a dreary place since the funeral. Albus and Aberforth have been trying their best to keep it together. Not the house- their emotions. It wasn't easy when Kendra was here, now it's going to be even harder.

When he opened the door Albus was pleasantly surprised to see that foreign boy Gellert accompanying the good old family friend Bathilda. Yes, he asked himself if he could join but Albus thought it was just to mess with him.

"Hello." Albus's eyes lingered a little too long on Gellert before moving on to Bathilda.

"Good afternoon, dearie, how have you been holding up?" Bathilda seemed concerned.

"I'm doing all right, thank you for asking" Albus answered but his smile was only partly honest

"This is my great-nephew Gellert, I believe the two of you have met."

Grindelwald stepped forward to shake hands with Albus. "Truly a pleasure," he said while Albus stared at their hands.

"Thought you could use some more company at hard times like these. You two seem like you'd get along, you've got quite a few things in common."

Albus nodded to follow him into the dining room. "I must say I didn't expect a fuller company." He said and glanced at Gellert

"Frankly, I am quite offended that I wasn't awaited. I thought I have made my attendance perfectly clear."

Albus blushed a little but the guests couldn't have seen it through the strands of auburn hair falling on his face that was just long enough to cover his soft smile. "Let me get the tea." He waved his wand as they entered the dining room. "I admit, I do need to practice making food, not exactly an area I've had much practice in, Aberforth is much better at it. Maybe a surprise guest is what I needed." He smiled a little putting together more scones with the fluid motions of his wand. His guests sat down around the table and he sat opposite them.

"Oh, Gellert, you don't know how we got acquaintanced with the Dumbledores. It's really an interesting story. When they had just moved here I tried to greet them to Godric's Hollow with some freshly conjured cauldron cakes but Kendra just slammed the door in my face! You can imagine I was displeased. I didn't see her around for quite some time, only the boys time after time Then one day I run into Aberforth, or, rather, he runs into me while rushing back from the shop, obviously not happy that I came in his way but he tried to hide it, apologized, introduced himself. I got him talking though not really willingly, pulled him by the tongue. finally invited his mother Kendra for tea. To my surprise she came, as did her sons, " She glanced at Albus and he smiled back as if saying 'yes, sorry'. "Hard to crack the shell to get them talking, honestly. But when you do, you see a kind soul inside." She smiled at Albus. "There's a whole other story of how we came to these once-a-week visits with Ariana, by the way, where is she?"

With these words, they heard steps going down the stairs leading right beside the dining room. Ariana came in first, with a smile invisible to the naked eye and only recognised as such by the people close to her. but then she noticed that the stranger. She stopped for half a second in disbelief then slowed her step. Her hands clasped and her head tilted down. Her eyes, like a deer that's shined a light on. Albus moved with his chair to make room for her but she stayed by the door glancing at the owner of the loudening footsteps. Aberforth appeared at the door, he was starting to say something but when he noticed the guest he stopped at the threshold for a second, as Ariana did before him.

"Oh, hello." his eyes were on Grindelwald. He walked up to him and reaches out an arm. Ariana stayed a step behind him "Aberforth Dumbledore".

Gellert stood up shook his hand and introduced himself. Aberforth seemed a little hesitant and Ariana was rubbing her foot to the floor a little too hard. She was doing everything a little too hard and too much lately.

"No need to be so wary, Gellert's my great-nephew. He came to visit, or rather to live with me for a while, or no - Anyway, he's here in the Hollow." Mrs Bagshot tried to reassure but everyone saw Ariana wasn't getting calmer, on the contrary, she was rubbing her hands together stronger and stronger so Bathilda did what she knew would calm her down. "How are the goats doing? Will you show me them?"