For The Greater Good | Grindeldore OneShots

What's In Your Head?

A/N: Slight warning for mentions of blood.

"Gellert, are you sure about this?" The teenager asked, uncertain blue eyes gazing up into his younger companion's vulture-like glare. The younger, Gellert, towered over him slightly, standing with a sort of regal poise. He stared back down at his friend through strands of his golden waves which fell in front of his face. Those mismatched silver and black eyes piercing into his soul as he searched the older's expression and locked onto the uncertainty he detected.

"What is there to worry about Albus? Do you not trust me?" Gellert asked cooly. His hand found the soft waves of his friend's long auburn hair, and mindlessly twisted a lock of it around his index finger whilst he awaited a response. Albus blinked, momentarily taken aback by Gellert's absurd question.

"What? Gellert, of course, I trust you! I've never doubted you once. I just mean that-"

Gellert cut him off, "I know what you mean," he said calmly, lips curling into a reassuring smile.

When the older couldn't find any words to reply with, he gave a simple nod, which Gellert took nod as a sign of consent to continue with their arranged plans. He carefully grasped Albus' hand, holding it palm up, and supporting it with a gentle hold. The colours of their skin wildly contrasted each other. Albus couldn't help but chuckle at how his warm undertone, and hint of a tan, made Gellert look like a ghost with that pale complexion. Gellert's smile only grew at hearing Albus' soft laughter. At least he knew that meant he was comfortable.

"Ready?" Gellert asked, placing the tip of his wand on Albus' hand.

Albus stared down at their hands. He sucked in a breath and held it. Once he was a little calmer, he let it out slowly, taking his lip between his teeth in an effort to prepare himself. He paused before giving a verbal answer.

"Yes."

Gellert used a non-verbal spell to cut into Albus' hand; Drops of blood pooled and spilled out of the wound. The painful sensation drew a hiss out of the older teen. His eyes screwed shut for a moment before fluttering open once more as Gellert repeated the action on himself, barely wincing as if he was numb to the pain. He found himself meeting Albus' gaze and holding it. Gellert raised his bleeding hand up, Albus needing no command to quickly do the same. Their palms pressed together, spilled blood mingled, and trickled down their arms to the floor. Neither was sure who initiated it, but their fingers clasped down firmly around each other's hand. The moment they interlocked sent electricity surging through their bodies, forcing out shudders. Albus couldn't help but internally acknowledge the intimacy of the situation.

No words were exchanged the whole time the ritual was being performed. Gellert dropped his wand and held out his now free hand. One droplet from each of their blood floated over, dancing around above his palm. It was a complicated spell, one which held all of Gellert's focus. Magic circulated through the air around them, and within them as well. It swirled around their droplets of blood which were soon encased in a silver pendant containing their initials on it. Their blood pact had successfully been created. The two teenagers opened their eyes to stare at it in awe. A sense of accomplishment came over them as their gazes trailed from the pendant floating above Gellert's hand, and once again locked on each other. No words needed to be said to establish how they felt.

It was pure happiness.

Gellert's eyes snapped open, and right then and there, he knew what memory felt the strongest. His hand firmly gripped his wand as he pointed it at the dementors approaching in large numbers.

"Expecto Patronum!" He cried out with sheer confidence woven into his tone.

There was a small pause, and in one powerful burst, waves of a soft blue light that illuminated the dimly lit street shot out of the tip of his wand. With the memory fresh and ever present in his mind, the charm was undeniably powerful. Gellert could still feel the warmth spread throughout his body. He could see, hear, and feel every aspect of the memory coursing through his veins. The way their interlocked fingers had given him a sensation that felt surreal, how Albus' eyes had been locked only on him when they were open, and how it felt to watch their blood combine as one like it had always meant to be. Above everything else, he could feel Albus' love, and at that moment, it struck him.

The whole time he knew Albus, he could sense that they got along better than anyone else. The moment his great-aunt Bathilda introduced the two boys, their friendship had been instantaneous. Only, Gellert hadn't realized something. At that point in time, he'd never thought too much about the way Albus looked at him, how his pupils dilated. Or how Albus would freeze whenever their hands touched. Gellert never paid attention to how close Albus would stand or sit next to him. His aunt always commented on how they acted like brothers. For Gellert, it was in this moment, when it was years too late, that he realized what kind of love it really was.

That brief realization brought upon one singular falter in his happiness that allowed the charm to fade away. His mind and surroundings now shrouded in darkness. Albus had loved him, chosen him over everything, but Gellert had chosen everything over Albus. He'd left Albus with a broken heart, and a broken family. Guilt festered in his mind, and for the first time in his life, Gellert Grindelwald felt weak. Before he knew it, his breathing felt restricted, and his knees wanted to buckle underneath him. A sudden chill ran up his spine as a dementor descended upon him, drawing every speck of joy out of his soul. A different, darker memory seeped into his mind.

Clouds cast over the sky as Albus' younger sister shrieked for them to stop fighting. He couldn't hear her, neither of them could. The three teenagers all hissed a curse at the same time, and beams of light erupted from their wands. It was too late to stop her when Ariana ran in between them. She took the full force of their spells. The impact had such power that it knocked the other three to the ground. Gellert could hear Ariana's scream. It rang in his ears. The flash of green hit her, and she was gone. Albus, Gellert, and Aberforth sat up, staring at the body which lay lifeless. None of them, and yet all of them, took the blame for her death.

In the distance, the shout of a man could be heard, but it was muffled to Gellert's ears. The shadow of death itself loomed over him, reaching down from the skies to take him away, but before death could reach him, powerful waves of blue light raced past him. He snapped to his senses and looked up. From the spell's source, Gellert could see the bright image of a phoenix which soared with purpose.

Instantaneously, the dementors flew off, cast away by the sheer force of the Patronus charm. The charm itself, as quickly as it had been produced, faded away. Gellert squinted in the darkness and made out the shape of a man fast approaching. His eyes locked onto those of the wizard who'd saved him, and his stomach plummeted to the floor.

For Gellert Grindelwald now stared into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore.