Summer 1899 // Grindledore

Photograph

Despite having taken a picture with Albus for the Dumbledore family photo album, Gellert hadn't seen any of the other pictures in it. Gellert tried not to think much of it; curiosity only breeds anxiety and it was all Bathilda's idea for the couple to take a photo together. The poor woman tried to get the whole Dumbledore family to take a photo with the blond boy, but Aberforth put his foot down and firmly said 'no'.

That's why when the young couple were sitting on the sofa, sweaty from the summer heat trapped in the house, Gellert's anxiety fueled curiosity ramped up when he saw Albus looking through the family photo album, a sullen look on his face. A look that had become unusual for the moonstruck boy. 'Does he not want me to see it?'

"Are you okay?" Gellert asked, setting aside a book on Divination.

Albus, now teary eyed, turned his attention to Gellert. "I'm fine," he said, his fingers fiddling with the tip of the thick glossy page.

Gellert pointed to the photo album. "Can I see?"

Albus nodded 'yes' and patted the sofa, beckoning Gellert to come closer. And so the other boy did.

"Um," Albus muttered, wiping his wet eyes, "that woman, that was my mother. The man next to her was my father."

Gellert took in the sight of the woman— Albus mother— due to the resemblance Albus bore to her. Her hair may have been as black as the night, but the shape of the eyes, the sharp cheekbones and full lips all screamed Albus. His auburn hair on the other hand was passed on from his father. And his eyes? Well, those were his own. Gellert could stare into those ocean blue eyes forever.

Albus turned the page, and choked in a sob. The photograph, a mother, a father and a child of two years— the child who would become the first of three— all sat in a garden, with the smiling little boy playing with his mother's skirt. All eyes were on the boy as his mother and father smiled, and the auburn haired little boy looked directly into the camera and waved. Albus slammed the photo album shut and could not control his cries. Tears streamed down his face and he looked down at the wooden flooring, ashamed.

Gellert moved closer as to embrace Albus, and Albus hugged him tight. Tighter than he ever had before. "I'm sorry," he managed to make out in-between sobs.

Gellert stroked his partner's back. "Don't apologize. I've got you."

"Why is life so unfair? Why can't they still be here? Why can't Ariana be normal?"

For once, the charming Gellert Grindelwald was at a loss for words. "You know why." Gellert took a breath. "I'm going to give you the world."

Albus managed to smile. "I'll hold you to it."

For a moment, the two sat in silence, the only sound being Albus' decaying sobs.

"Can we have that?"

"What?"

"A family. After our revolution, of course. There are so many little wizard and witches who've been abandoned and need a home. We can be their home."

Gellert took another breath. "Yes, we can have that. Anything you want, I'll make sure you get."

Gellert didn't know whether or not he was lying to his lover.