The Dumbledore home has been the most secluded place in Godric's Hollow, and Gellert thoroughly enjoys it. His family's manor was always full of vain and loud socialites. The dorms of Durmstrang, however, reminded him of a prison cell and presented the evidence that there was such a thing as too much discipline. Those two unlikely planets are united by one thing only - their inhabitants were unapologetically dumb. Don't get him wrong, the village is as mediocre as it gets, but there are two saving graces - Bathilda and Albus. And still he has managed to get bored. You can't always survive on planning a new structure of the wizarding society. Sometimes you need a great escape, and Albus always up for a little adventure.
Waist deep in water, Albus watches Gellert sailing the rowing boat. Having lived in the village all his live, he had never seen anybody handle oars so skillfully. Gellert could be sailing the floating and shipless oceans with that attitude. Albus only hopes that this insufferable genius would let him be his first mate.
"Sail to me!" screams Albus almost jumping with excitement.
Sailing closer Gellert waves him in, and Albus follows his call. The first thing he notices climbing onboard is how shaky the old wood of the boat is. Gellert doesn't seem to mind the instability of his vessel, but from the seventeen years of his life in the village Albus explored all the river routes and he'd rather walk any day of the week. And still Albus does all his best to smile.
"The waters here are much better than in that pathetic pond they made me swim in back home," remarks Gellert, leaning on the oars. Albus can't help but admires the inner strength of his arms. His naturally inclined to thinness body type is nothing but a vessel for the determined soul that would never settle for what was given by nature.
Having noticed Albus stare at him, Gellert let go of the oars and bend over him. He wants to tease him, to punish him for being a prude so long, so when Albus leans in for the kiss, he slowly moves away with a sarcastic grin.
"Come back tomorrow, touch-me-not," Gellert chuckles victoriously, softly pushing Albus. That playful act makes him loose his balance and fall overboard much to Gellert's amusement.
"Oh, Albus don't leave me. My heart shies from the sorrow. Here I am, waiting to hold you!" Gellert laughs and the sound of his joy enfolds Albus.
"Then I want you on full sail, cause I'm not staying amid the breakers," he snorts in response and pushes the foolish boat that leans and throws Gellert out.
"Look at me now, I'm broken lovelorn on your rocks," no irony in Gellert's words this time around. He swims to Albus's side so close, their faces almost touch.
"I don't understand you, Gellert. Whatever it is, I don't know if I can do this..." Albus shivers, but Gellert's singing eyes and fingers are drawing him to the isle of love and tranquility.
"I know...I've been puzzled too. As a newborn child, actually. But deep down I always knew. Every time my dad was talking about his friend's daughters, I thought that death would be the only bride I'd lie with. I've been dreaming about you since the first day here. I think, the same goes for you. It's only a riddle if you want it to be."
"We need to go back. Ariana's probably worried," says Albus in a tremble voice - either from the undisclosed desire of his heart or from a more primitive fear of sexual arousal.
The cool waves drift away with Gellert and Albus, and they find themselves upon the bank. One is utterly confused, another is full of the comforting hope. Albus will not surrender today or tomorrow, but Gellert won't give in. He knows what he wants.
