Everything felt grey to Albus. His life was falling apart and he was only sixteen. His baby sister was catatonic, his mother was a monster, his father had just been arrested and sent to Azkaban and his younger brother hated him.
He ran through the forest, the air feeling thick though he was outside. Leaning against a tree, he collapsed against it, the tears rushing out of his, landing on the ground below, his knees drawn to his chest as he sobbed. It was all too much.
He turned around and looked up, he knew he needed to hide before his mother came look. Quickly, he climbed up the tree, as far as he could go, more tears falling and his vision became blurry.
Roughly wiping them away, getting a bit of dirt smeared on his face, Albus sat back and finally breathed. He closed his eyes for a little while, taking deep breaths as he did so.
"Are you alive?" a voice spoke, snapping him out of his blissful darkness. He didn't recognize the voice and he knew everyone already in the new village, Godric's Hollow.
"Yes, I am, now go away." He grumbled, opening his eyes and peering down at the boy below. "Who are you?"
"Well, who are you?" He asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. "And what are you doing in a tree?"
"I asked you first." Albus said, leaning forward to get a better look.
"Well...I asked you second so answer." he demanded, his eyes calculating.
"I'm Albus."
"Gellert."
Albus slowly nodded and began to climb down, still not trusting the boy.
"Why are you in the forest then, Albus?" Gellert asked, his hand tight around his bag on his back.
"Hiding...why are you in the forest?" he repeated the question, staring up slightly at Gellert.
"I'm running away from my crazy Great-Aunt." Gellert answered, looking the boy up and down. "Why are you hiding?"
"Why are you running away?" Albus asked at the same time. Frowning slightly, Albus adjusted his clothing and pushed his hair out of his face.
"I asked first so you have to answer my question." Gellert quickly said, his stance defensive. Albus sighed and his shoulders' tenseness deflated.
"Because, my father is in Azkaban, my mother is insane, my sister is catatonic and my brother hates me. I needed space to breathe."
Gellert slowly nodded, before smiling widely at Albus. "How about I am your breath of fresh air?" he suggested, stepping closer to the boy. "We can be friends, we both need each other and we're the same age."
Albus slowly nodded, before smiling a genuine smile.
"I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, Gellert."
