Chapter Text
Though he was still in shock, his heart still racing from this near brush with death, Albus somehow managed to pull himself out of his daze and start walking back to his house, unlocking the front door quietly and going inside.
After cleaning his smoke stained clothes, hanging them out to dry and washing the smell of ash out of hair with some soap, Albus, exhausted climbed into bed. But though tired he was, some questions still lingered. Who was that boy? Albus was certain that he had never seen him in Godric's hollow before. He had never even seen him at Hogwarts before either, even though the boy seemed about the same age as Albus. Had he been homeschooled?
Albus tossed and turned, these questions trapping in on him until, finally, he fell into an uneasy sleep.
~ "Albus, you look like you got run over by the Hogwarts Express in your sleep." Aberforth announced bluntly when Albus stumbled downstairs for breakfast the next morning. Albus merely shrugged. It was true he had slept terribly his dreams had been plagued with rainbow colored flames and mysterious golden haired boys, but there was no way he was telling his younger siblings about his little night excursions.
"Bathilda sent an owl by the way" Said Aberforth without looking up from the book he was reading aloud to Ariana "She says there is someone she wants you to meet" "Who?" Questioned Albus, grabbing a slice of bread from the counter top "Dunno she didn't say" "Probably so-and-so's great grandfather who was a muggle-rights activist in the late 1700's or something" muttered Albus "Bathilda is a lovely woman but she really does have a habit of making acquaintances with some of the most ordinary people imaginable" He sighed "It would be rude to refuse though. What time does she want me to come over at?" "11:00"
"Albus?" piped up Ariana "Can I come too?" Albus shook his head "Sorry Ari, I'm afraid your condition is too delicate. Maybe some other time." Ariana's blue eyes looked sad as she stared up at Albus, then she said in a very small voice "You always say that. Will I never be allowed out of this prison? Am I supposed to remain trapped here forever?" Albus didn't know what to say to that it was true he hadn't allowed Ariana to leave the house since Kendra's death. He glanced helplessly at Aberforth. Aberforth glared back in disapproval, before wrapping a comforting arm around Ariana and saying in a gentle voice (So different from the voice he usually used) "You don't always have to be stuck inside Ari, why don't you come outside to the garden and help me feed the goats?" Ariana nodded "Yeah that sounds nice"
Aberforth grabbed a container of goat food from the cabinet and the two headed out to the back garden.
Albus sat down, perched on the counter. He wished Bathilda had chosen a better time, one when he was not severely sleep deprived. But of course there was no way she could have known. Albus glanced at the clock as he helped himself to another slice of bread. It wasn't for another three hours. Good.
The three hours seemed to pass quickly to Albus. He had briefly debated sending a letter to Elphias filling him in on the inferno and the golden haired boy but he decided against it. Elphias was a rule follower and probably would not be pleased to hear about Albus sneaking out at night.
Ultimately, he had sat down on the floor and reread the Tales of Beedle the Bard (For probably the two dozenth time) One of his favorite books even though it was just fairy tales. His favorite story in it was The Tale of the Three Brothers and he often wondered what it would be like if he owned one (or all) of Death's Hallows.
At 10:45 Albus changed his clothes and brushed out his long hair before heading to Bathilda's. "Hello Albus" Bathilda greeted him when she opened the door. "Hello Bathilda" Said Albus politely.
Bathilda was a skinny woman in her mid sixties or seventies with wispy graying blonde hair and green eyes. She was a famous historian and often, when he was younger he would beg his mother to let him come by to hear all of her stories.
Bathilda lead him down the hallway and into the living room where he sank into one of the squashy blue armchairs. "Would you like a cup of tea Albus?" she asked him as she crossed the room "No thank you" "Anything to eat?" "No" said Albus quickly trying not to sound rude. Bathilda was the worst at cooking.
"Say Bathilda, who was it that you were going to introduce me to?" Normally Albus would have been perfectly happy to spend the whole day at Bathilda's, away from his constantly nagging siblings. Today however, he was eager to get home as quickly as possible where he could spend more time pondering about the golden haired boy.
"He's my nephew" said Bathilda, sitting down by the fireplace. "He's only two years younger than you so I figured you might get along" "Mhmm" said Albus not really paying attention. Oh how he wished he was at home.
Gellert!" she called "Just a minute!" came a muffled voice from upstairs.
A few moments later a boy appeared at the foot of the stairs "What is it..." his voice trailed off as his eyes met Albus' and Albus nearly gasped in shock. There, standing before him, was the golden haired boy.