Chapter Text
More weeks passed by and Gellert would often leave the castle for a few hours or a day. He would always be there in the morning and for dinner. They rarely talked about what he did, Albus would read about it in the newspaper soon after anyway. Albus had found that there was a phoenix in the castle, Fawkes, as he would call him. The bird used to be locked away in a cage but had broken out the second he saw the read head and since then he has been inseparable from Albus.
A month into his unlike partnership with the phoenix he had been able to convince Gellert to let the bird sleep in their room.
Live in Nurmengard was simple and monotonous. Every morning one of Gellert’s acolytes would make him breakfast and he would read the newspaper. At first none of the followers would talk to him but over time those who were assigned to serve him personally, as Gellert had put it, loosened up around him. One, a young witch by the name of Kathrine Waterstone, would even advise him on his wardrobe and would often talk to him or assist him with spells.
As spring neared the snow around the castle melted slightly and they could venture out. Fawkes would often fly high above them, never too far off but far enough so that he could properly spread his wings.
He found out that only a slim path lead to the castle and even that would lose itself in the nearest forest. A small table and chairs were placed under a tree on the side of the path and he would often have his tea out there with Kate and Fawkes.
One day they were just sitting there, tea still steaming hot in their cups and Fawkes perched on the backrest of an empty chair, when hurried footsteps neared them. Kate quickly rushed to her feet and placed herself before him, wand in hand.
They weren’t far from the castle, but the path just made a sharp turn which gave them a little privacy.
He figures passed the corner and he could see that it was Gellert with the woman that would often follow him. As Kate lowered her wand Albus trained his eyes on the blonde. The panicked look there was washed away by relieve and Gellert slowed as he approached the table.
Albus stood up and was surprised as he was pulled forward into the other’s chest as a kiss was pressed onto his lips. He felt Gellert sight against him shortly before he pulled back.
“So, this is where you spend your afternoon, Liebling?” The blondes voice was firm but there still was some uncertainty in his eyes.
“Obviously. Did I not tell you?” he was sure that he had told the other a few month ago over dinner that he wished to venture outside of the castle as soon as the weather got warmer.
“I must have forgotten it.” Sheepishly Gellert looked down and Albus softly pulled his face back up, then letting his hands sink to the others neck to fix his collar and lapels.
He could feel the younger wizards searching eyes on his face, but he didn’t look up until he had fixed every last wrinkle in the other’s clothing. Then his fingers stopped on the other’s chest before he looked up and met brown and blue eyes.
He didn’t address the fear that had let the other here, he didn’t need to, instead he only leaned forward and pressed their lips together shortly. “I love you, Gellert Grindelwald. Always have, always will.”
Gellert led out a shaky breath then took Albus hand and led him back towards the table. They took their seats, Albus the same one as before with the other wizard now to his right. Kate took her original place opposite of Albus.
The other woman kept standing until her leader shot a glance in her direction. “Albus, may I introduce you to Vinda Rosier. She is one of my most trusted acolytes.”
Albus smiled at her but was only rewarded with a grim nod and then she began to muster intensely the table top.
His hands were grasped in those of the other man and he turned his eyes away from the woman.
Gellert did not look at him, his eyes were trained on the table too, but his face was stern as he spoke, “We have raided the Ministry two days ago.”
The sentences hung in the air between them and the German seemed to anticipate his reaction.
“I know. I read about it.” The newspaper article was still fresh in his mind. Article might not be the right word, that day it was all the pages were filled with that day. Endless lists of those who were found dead or were still missing. And pages full of pictures of Gellert’s acolytes. To his surprise half a page had been addressed to his absence and the `rumour´ that Grindelwald had kidnapped him.
He had read all of that and then had neatly folded it before giving it to Fawkes. He had watched it burn while he slowly drank his cooling tea.
Gellert’s eyes shot up to him and Albus only grunted in amusement. This fool really thought that Albus would leave or hate him? After all those months in in which they had shared the same closet, bath and bed.
“You are a fool, Gellert Grindelwald. Sometimes I wonder why I fell in love with you in the first time.” He mused, a smirk playing at his lips.
The head of Mrs. Rosier jerked up and she openly stared at him, he only winked back as Gellert threw his head back and laughed loudly. “At least I am your fool.” He huffed out afterwards and threw a disgustingly sweet smile his way.
“In that case, could that fool of mine be so kind and re-heat my tea? I’m afraid that it has gone cold.” He threw a smile back and motioned to his cup.
Then three things happened at once. One, Kate reached forward wand in hand to heat up the tea again. Two, Mrs. Rosier turned her eyes on him, unhidden fury in her eyes, “How dare you talk to Lord Grindelwald in such a manner?”. And three, Gellert, Elberwand in hand, turned its tip away from the cup and towards the woman opposite of him.
Then there was silence, just for a second, before Gellert exploded in a tirade about manners and respect towards the older wizard, Mrs. Rosier quickly lowered her wand and so did Kate. Albus let out a breath and calmly laid his hand on Gellert’s arm.
The reaction did not take long and Gellert stopped mid-sentences and turned away from Mrs. Rosier, who looked even paler than before, and towards him.
“I think that you made your point clear, my love. Maybe we could just return inside? It has become quite cold, no?”
He made to stand up and watched in silent amusement as Gellert shot up from his seat and slightly pulled back his chair. If Albus was honest with himself then he had to admit that he had missed the other’s gentlemen-like behaviour around him.
As soon as he had stepped away from the table the blond wizard pushed his chair back and offered him his arm. “As you wish, Mein Liebster.”
They left the two still sitting women behind.
They walked back towards the castle in comfortable silence as the sun burned away the icecaps of the surrounding mountains.
Crossing under the mantra, Albus was relived as the warm air from inside the castle welcomed them. Fawkes, who had followed him loyally chirped as he flew ahead to his rest in the lounge.
A small fire heated the room with its many couches and bookshelves. They settled on a couch that had a spectacular view on the mountains around them. As soon as they sat two steaming cups appeared as the smell of black tea surrounded them.
“Thank you, Darling. You truly know the way to a man’s heart.” He huffed while taking one of the cups.
Gellert only laughed, “Only to yours, Liebling. Only to yours, always only you.”
Albus is shocked by his sincerity and swallows the lump which had formed in his throat. He feels stupidly young again when colour begins to bloom on his face. He opens his mouth, but no words are escaping so he closes it again only to hear his beloved chuckle before he is pulled in for a kiss.
They were lucky that none of the acolytes entered the room while they shared an intimate embrace there on the small couch in front of the mountains.
Afterwards, Gellert used a simple cleaning spell to rid the room of any evidence of their coupling as Albus groaned while rubbing over his shoulder which he had hit against an armrest.
In that moment, with Fawkes chirping at him and Gellert’s concerned eyes on him he felt strangely content. He knew that, as long as he had the other man and a warm place to call home, he could be happy.
Two more weeks passed by before, one evening he found Nurmengard silent and devoid of any living save for him and his phoenix. And Gellert who wore the nicest suit Albus had ever seen him in and a candlelit dinner. That evening Gellert had whispered an incantation and the hated bracelets fell away. His magic came rushing back to him and he thankfully took his wand from the other wizard.
More months went by, and before he knew it half a year had passed. Mrs. Rosier had warmed up to him and he would often have tea with both Kate and her, Gellert would join them whenever he could.
The number of countries that had fallen to the other man grew with each month and soon the magical society could hide no longer.
The day Gellert would hold his speech about magical supremacy and the graciousness of the wizarding world to share this with the none-magical rushed towards them and Albus wasn’t surprised to find new robes for the occasion. The diamond ring, however, did surprise him.
“To live in a world where we can freely love, why shouldn’t we lead by example?” He had kissed Gellert then until the they had to part breathlessly.