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Gellert Grindelwald had feeling for Albus Dumbledore. But somehow, he couldn’t say it because afraid it’ll ruin their friendship. It’s insane how a stupid—grown—feeling could twist his stomach every time he saw his close friend—his partner in crime—which makes him even stressed about it.
He must speak no words—and—show no interest at all.
Maybe—until Albus brings topic related to that.
But, both of them are dumbass. Albus—also had feeling for Gellert. He noticed details on how his partner behave around him—how his cheek would blushed slightly whenever Albus accidentally touch Gellert’s skin, or when Albus did something stupid such as tried to undress himself. Just like one day when they practicing apparition, both men suddenly spawned upon a great lake near Hogwarts Valley.
“GAAAAAAH—” Albus screamed as his body being pulled into water. One second before he spawned, Albus swore to Merlin that he catched a glimpse of moving water and he was right. Albus reached his pocket to cast the bubble head charm but unfortunately—his wand is no longer there. Probably drowned with his books and quills and notes that he wrote as rates and scores for their little magic experiment with Gellert.
A huge shadow approached him and took his arm to the surface. Both men gasped the fresh air as they stepped onto the solid ground. Albus coughed the remaining water from his throat while the other man slumped languidly on the grass. Both are shocked and soaked. Their breath visible around the cold air. The blond man stood, gazing at the small village perched near their location.
“Where are we?” Albus voice broke the silence as he approached the blond man.
“Hmm, I’m—still figuring out” Gellert responded while drying his clothes with wand.
“Figuring out?” Albus snapped, he looked at the other man sharply because apparition could only work when someone think about the place they wanted to go very CLEARLY.
“Uhh—” Gellert frowned, not sure because of Albus’s reaction or the place that looks a bit familiar to him. “Sorry” he muttered, “I just—” Gellert paused as he looked at Albus in the eye. His partner is furious right now. “Look—I didn’t expect that we’ll land on the water”.
Albus didn’t respond. Instead, he’s too focused to make his clothes dry without magic.
“Al—what are you doing?” Gellert frowned, looking at the red hair with confusion.
“Shhhh” the other man hissed, tried to wringing out his shirt. “I’m trying to dry my clothes like muggles do”
The blond man blinked. “Pardon?” he asked again to make sure that his ears were clear and no water stayed after what just happened.
Albus rolled his eyes, ignoring Gellert. It seems that his partner has became deaf after his ears was plunged into the water. “Ugh—it didn’t work” he sighed. “Oh, I know!”, without hesitation, Albus began to unbuttoning his vest and stripped his shirt before Gellert yelled in surprise.
“Merlin’s ball, Albus—” he exclaimed, pulling away his face then turned around to hide his blush. “Did you know that you can use your wand?”.
Gellert bit his lower lip, he cannot see Albus like this—not in this condition. He had sworn to hide his feeling and show no interest to Albus. Even with this situation, he must resist the temptation to look at his close friend and take no advantage of the sight. Gellert gritted his teeth, hoping that Albus would finish his ‘muggle method’ sooner.
“Oh, you don’t know?” Albus coaxed, “my wand is somewhere under that lake by the way”.
Gellert finally turned to his side. “Oh—” he whispered, “I’m really sorry, Al” he said almost gently while keeping his eyes away from the sight of Albus’s bare chest.
“Listen—Al,” Gellert sighed, he pulled his wand from the pocket then grabbed Albus’s soaked clothes. It only took three seconds until the shirt and the vest are ready to be wear again. “I’ll clean up this mess, alright?” he whispered to the red hair while still fighting the urge to not look at his partner too long. “And I think—I know where we are” Gellert added.
Albus finished buttoning his vest then tapped his partner’s shoulder. “Shall we go to proof your theory?” he offered.
Gellert nodded and they both stepped into the hamlet.
A faint wooden sign stated “Keenbridge” greeted them at the entrance. People bustling from one stand to another. They held a small festival to celebrate the last day of fall before winter came. Gellert know this place—he even had been here before.
A woman bumped into Gellert, makes her belongings scattered to the ground.
“Ooh—” she gasped before gathering her items on the ground. “I’m really sorry, Mr.—Merlin’s beard, are you—” she paused, looking at Gellert as if she knows him.
Gellert frowned, “Fatimah?”
“Yes!” Fatimah beamed, suddenly forgot about her belongings. “Oh dear, it’s been a long time” she grinned before moving her gaze to Albus. “And who’s this friend of yours?” she wondered.
“Oh yeah—er, this is Albus” Gellert smiled, “and Albus, this is Fatima” he added. “I once met her and she’s exceptionally good at brewing potions. I learn so much from her”
Fatimah chuckled. “Ha—nonsense!” she rolled her eyes, “Mr. Grindelwald has already skilled. Don’t you agree, Albus?”
“Obviously” he answered, “thanks to his outstanding magic skill, we don’t even need brooms to get here” the red hair smirked, curious to see his partner reaction.
“Marvellous! well then—enjoy Keenbridge, boys!” she welcomed. “considered it as a bonus if you find girls with your types!” she chuckled.
“Excuse me—” Albus cut, “what do you mean by that, ma’am?”
Fatimah frowned. “Oh, you haven’t heard the story?” she perplexed. “Well, there was a bridge here named Keenbridge. Locals believed that this bridge could lead those who crossed it to their true loves” Fatimah explained.
Both Gellert and Albus exchange glances. They couldn’t see any bridge near them.
“Confused?” Fatimah teased, “I know. There was no bridge, and—that’s just a myth, boys! So don’t take it seriously”
“Merlin beard—” Albus chuckled. “Well—I look forward for it, ma’am”
“Oh, just call me Fatimah” she smiled at Albus, “I have to brew my potions now, so see you boys!”
“Good luck” said Gellert as he waved his hand to her. Gellert have been in this hamlet before but he didn’t know the history until now.
He then then remembered why he thought about this place earlier. It was Albus—Keenbridge is the place where they first met. It was on the summer day after he asked Fatimah to brew Felix Felicis for his journey. That’s when he met Albus—and unexpectedly—that Hogwarts student shared the same vision with him.
“We’ve been here, right?” Albus recalled, “I think I know why we’re here”.
Gellert didn’t respond—he didn’t want to linger on a silly myth. He continued to walk while thinking about how he could bring Albus’s wand back from the lake.
“Gellert—wait—” Albus called behind him, “do you believe that?” he babbled with excitement. Albus already got the answer why his partner brings him to this place.
“Of course not” Gellert replied sortly. “That’s just a myth, right?” he quizzed. “There’s no such thing as true love” Gellert finally pointed out.
Albus didn’t respond, he simply looked at the back of the blond man before continue his walk. “Well—that’s weird” Albus pondered, “because once, I saw you read Muggle book that talk about love, Gellert”
The blond man stopped walking—he turned to see his partner.
“Romeo and Juliet—if I’m not wrong” Albus smirked.
Gellert sighed. “As you can see, I read doesn’t mean I believe” he refuted. “C’mon, let’s—”
“Oh, come on now—how long do you want to keep it quiet?” Albus snapped.
“Excuse me?”
The red hair huffed. “Now you’re playing dumb, huh?”
Gellert know where this conversation would lead to—and—he didn’t want to continue.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Al” Gellert tried to keep his tone neutral. He didn’t want to make his partner day even worse. He’s already done that. Twice. “Let’s go, Al. We should—”
“Do you like me by any chance, Gellert?” Albus shot him a look. He looked uncertain, but didn’t stutter. “Answer me” he pled, showing no mercy to Gellert.
Gellert really wanted to answered his question—to say “yes, I do”— but, he’s afraid about what would happen in the future.
What if Albus didn’t have the same feeling?
What If his feeling only one sided?
And what if—after he confessed—Albus found that he’s weak—disgusting, even worse—then leave him, marking the end of their long friendship?
Gellert couldn’t lose Albus.
Not yet.
Not now.
But, his feeling is already wanted to explode. He couldn’t hold it anymore. He loves Albus—not just as friend, but also something deeper than a friend.
Well, maybe a partner? But he’s already his partner in crime.
Gellert knew he had feelings to Albus, and it’s beyond friends could have—beyond partners. Gellert wanted to protect him, to learn magic with him, and be the strongest wizard people could never imagine together in the future.
Gellert Grindelwald not just like—but love Albus Dumbledore. He knew that this time would come, and perhaps—this is the perfect time to show him his feeling.
“Albus—” Gellert whispered, he bit his lower lip as if unsure to continue the words. “I—Well, if I say yes—would you fled and never see me again for the rest of your live?”
Albus frowned. “What? Oh—excuse me?” he then burst into laughter. “Why would I?” he responded playfully.
Gellert could feel the atmosphere less tensed. The sun is almost set and he’s not yet fulfilling his promised to Albus—to return his wand and belongings under the lake. But, he’ll got into that later.
Gellert cut the distance—brushed his fingertips to Albus’s cheek and pulled the man into a kiss. Gellert could feel his stomach twisted—heated—and somehow, Albus wasn’t pulling away from the kiss either. It was tender—and delicate—but Gellert is too shy to look at Albus before it finished.
So, that’s it.
He confessed.
He finally confessed.
Both men pulled away from the kiss as a carriage tried to passed the street. Luckily, it’s done with magic, so—nobody saw them.
“Merlin—” Albus gasped, his face’s red as tomatoes, “it is hard to just say yes?”
Gellert chuckled, a faint blush creeping down his face as he covered it with fingers. “You know—Just in case”
Albus rolled his eyes before leaning to the other man’s shoulder. “So, I guess the myth is a bit true, eh?” he claimed, “though there was no bridge here”
“Don’t start again, Al—”
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.
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Fin