Greater than Good (Grindeldore 1899)

Chapter 6. A Visit at the Bagshot House

The sun was blazing in his eyes as Albus knocked on the Bagshot home door. It was only 10 in the morning, but the weather was already so warm that Albus didn't even wear a jacket, only a waistcoat, and that unbuttoned. Mrs Bagshot opened the door.

"Oh, hello, dearie! Please, come in," she commanded, then left Albus to close the door himself while she walked towards the kitchen with the intention of being followed, floorboards squeaking as they walked.

Before Albus could express the reason for the visit, Mrs Bagshot had set a cup for him, and the kettle that was on the table immediately levitated to fill it with tea. Albus had no choice but to sit down opposite her at the small kitchen table. There was a dining room next door, but it was rarely used. For one small old woman that she was the tiny table at her tiny kitchen was more than enough.

"So how have you been holding up these past days?" She started, flailing her teacup in between sips. "Didn't have the chance to ask you yesterday. Thought it would do Ariana some good to show me the goats again, to calm her down. And it did! But then she went on and on, wanted to show me everything about them. You know how she gets sometimes, when she's excited."

Albus nodded, but he didn't know. Ariana was never this talkative around him. She usually only said what she really needed to, and he respected that. He rather liked that about her. That she valued her time and his, didn't talk about silly stuff, that, frankly, didn't interest him, just for the sake of talking about it. He saw a bit of himself in that. He never bothered his mother, nor his brother with whatever he's been up to, what project he's participating in, or what new paper he's writing. He knew they were occupied by their own thoughts and worries.

"Somehow managing," Albus tried to be honest but didn't want to worry Mrs Bagshot.

"Don't worry, it will get easier. Taking care of a family is no easy job. Especially not, when one is thrown into it like you have been. You just need to find your rhythm, what works, and what doesn't. You and Aberforth are almost fully pledged wizards already, I'm sure you'll figure it out in no time." Her speech was briefly interupted by the sound of emerging footsteps on the wobbly old stairs and floorplanks

"This one so far hasn't been so difficult for me. Wouldn't be able to say the same about his parents, though. " Bathilda raised her gaze above Albus's head to greet the owner of the walk. "Right, young man?" She smiled.

Albus turned in his chair to see waves of blonde hair falling softly on the angular face of Gellert Grindelwald. Albus shot up from the chair.

"I see we have guests." Gellert said, a slight tease in his voice that hinted to Albus that perhaps Gellert hoped Albus was there to visit him. And he was.

"Good morning." Albus reached out his hand

Grindelwald took a couple quick glances at it and then back at Albus's face as if unsure whether to shake it or not. As if it was strange of them to shake hands at this point of aquaintance. "Ditto." He shook it, though.

Albus hoped that Gellert couldn't feel it tremble just the tiniest bit. He didn't know what he was nervous about. Albus turned to Bathilda. "In fact, I came to visit with the intent to see Mr. Grindelwald's book collection he had mentioned yesterday. " He glanced at Gellert to see a slight satisfactory smile. "I heard he has some lesser known publications worth of attention."

"That, and some other things, he does." Bathilda said while scanning Gellert's face for a 'yes' or 'no'. "Go on, then, boys, I won't bother you any longer."

-

Author's note:

Well, this was a long time coming, wasn't it? Sorry for that, it kinda felt like I put my whole life on hold for good 5 months and was catching up for the next 3 lol. I was doing a study abroad/exchange thing in England itself!! So that was fun! My speaking English has improved A LOT, idk if it will shine through in my writing coming forward.

Not sure how exactly I want to plan the events in the future chapters, so that might take a while. Also, not sure if I should take Fantastic Beasts info into my story or not since I don't really count it as canon (due to plot holes)