Palette

The golden hour was truly golden now when the warmest of the rays were gently threading through the silk of Gellert’s hair. He was working carefully, methodically on the map, cross-referencing each and every possible hint of the Deathly Hallows. And even though Albus was deeply enchanted by the idea of finding them and leading the future revolution — hand in hand, something that they yet had to discuss and the anticipation was building up in him to a critical level — right now it didn’t really matter. What mattered was the golden halo surrounding Gellert’s head. Das Rheingold, Albus thought and reached out, almost expecting those golden strands of hair to burn his fingertips. They didn’t. Albus was embarrassed with himself — for the gesture, for the unfitting poetic analogy. Wasn’t the Rhine gold cursed? If Gellert knew his thoughts, he would be surely offended by this grim comparison. “When we are done with the map,” Gellert straightened and stretched his arms to the ceiling. “We can have a short walk before lunch.” “Do you have a destination in mind? I mean, for our walk.” “Yes. You promised to show me around that lovely graveyard… and I don’t think we’ll have enough time for that in the evening.” “We won’t?” “No. I have other plans.” “Oh,” he didn’t want to sound that disappointed but couldn’t help it. A thousand and one possibilities of plans Gellert could possibly have rushed through his mind, and Albus felt defeated. He tried to hide that as best as he could. “Well, in that case…” “Tonight, I want to formally ask you out on a date, Albus.” “You what?” Gellert didn’t reply, he looked at Dumbledore with infinite patience, the expression that made Albus feel much younger, almost vulnerable, and shrugged his shoulders as if any type of explanations were unnecessary. “That is… pretty straightforward.” “Well, I am impatient. And I guessed that being the timid Brit that you are, I will have to take the matter into my own hands. Or prepare to wait for a year to be asked out.” “You wouldn’t have to wait for that long…” “I get it, though. The society here isn’t reactive, it resists changes even more than in my homeland… I bet it was a difficult experience for you at school.” “It wasn’t. I love Hogwarts with all my heart!” “Yes. But have you ever been on a date while studying there? Have you ever been asked out or asked anyone out yourself?” Gellert now was looking at him with a small smirk hiding in the corner of his mouth. “I was interested in studying.” “If I had studied at Hogwarts, would you have gone out on a date with me? Don’t answer now, take a moment… it won’t hurt my pride.” Albus hesitated and actually gave the idea some thought. Would he? Would he have been strong enough to rebel against the expectations of social acceptability, to weaponize his sense of humor and wit at all times? Would he have needed to master the art of passive aggression just to keep up with the excruciating politeness to his face… and the knowing, dismissive smiles behind his back? He was brilliant, yes. But would he have been brilliant enough not to become the punchline of every joke? No offense, old mate. None taken. Over, and over, and over again? “Yes,” Albus said at last. “I would have gone on a date with you.” “Thank you,” Gellert didn’t smile this time. He looked deadly serious, as if they were discussing the fates of the world. “Would you go out on a date with anyone else from your school?” “No,” Albus half-expected a follow-up question but it seemed that they didn’t need to name the obvious. No one had ever known was like Gellert. That smart, that ambitious, that brave. No one could compare with Grindelwald. “I dream of a future where nobody has to hide anymore. Ever,” Gellert said, and at that moment Albus didn’t see a boy his neighbor introduced to him. He saw a born leader with a golden halo around his head, he saw the man Gellert would become, the man Albus desperately wanted to become, and the Rhine gold was shining in his eyes. “Not wizards. Not us… And I want you to share my dreams with me, my love.” That was the first time Gellert called him "my love" when Albus realised he had meant it all along. “Your dreams are my dreams, Gellert.” “Everything that we’ll do will be worth it,” Gellert looked at the map again. “Take me, for instance. I was expelled from Durmstrang, and at that moment I thought it was a full-stop… it wasn’t. Just a comma. A necessary evil for the greater good to come.” “For the greater good…” thoughtfully echoed Albus. “You are my Greater Good, Albus. My better half,” when Grindelwald took his hand, Dumbledore didn’t blush. He blushed several moments later, when Gellert’s lips brushed softly against his knuckles. “Liebhaber in allen Gestalten.”