Archive of Our Own

“I don’t like how your brother treats you.”

 

“He means well.”

 

“No, I don’t think he does.” Gellert massaged his lover’s shoulders to pre-empt any interruption. “He’s knows that you, like most Englishmen, believe in equality. You think that we are all balanced out by our traits. You know you are smarter than him so you accept that he must be more righteous than you, as he supposes, because it makes sense. But equality is the silliest idea ever conceived.”

 

Albus’ shoulders tensed up at that but Gellert was prepared with a kiss, planted softly on his neck.

 

“I had my doubts before but, after meeting you, I knew I was right. It’s possible to be stronger, smarter and even still more righteous than another man. Albus, we are not drawn to each other by affinity but by category. We are in a league of our own!”

 

The thought of that – of being with Gellert – made it easier to accept. Albus would not come to the conclusion on his own because it seemed too arrogant but here was eye witness testimony from the one man whose opinion mattered most to him.

 

“I’m so glad you found me.” Those were Gellert’s words, now coming from Albus’ mouth – Gellert always claimed that he had done the finding and not the other way around. Even when Albus tried to argue that they found each other, Gellert would not have it.

 

“I knew as soon as I saw you…” A kiss on the shoulder. “… that I could not let you get away…” Several down the arm. “… because only you can complete me…” The covers are thrown off. “… and only I can complete you.”

 

It was almost an hour later before their conversation turned away from hoarse blasphemies and half-uttered sentiments.

 

“Do you really think we can do it, Gellert? Accomplish what no one ever has?”

 

“Yes, what no one ever has. We are two.”

 

“You always sound so sure of yourself.”

 

“I am, but I am even more sure of you. Durmstrang demands its students be excellent but Hogwarts allows them to be who they are. You have made yourself noble even though your peers gave high praise to mediocrity.”

 

“I always considered myself quite ordinary.”

 

“False modesty is ugly, Albus. It does not suit you.”

 

Albus almost broke into tears, but stopped short with a choked sob – his emotions came pouring out nevertheless. He rolled into Gellert’s arms. “I’ve... I’ve always been ashamed to say it but… you’re right!”

 

“Shame and guilt are weapons the weak wield when they wish to slay the strong.”

 

“I broke records in school and my parents told me not to let it go to my head. I mastered seventh year charms before I’d even chosen my electives and they had so little to say!”

 

Gellert was smiling – a wider, wilder smile than Albus had seen before. “But there’s more than that, isn’t there? There were signs of your greatness, buried in plain sight. I’ve seen one of them, at least.”

 

Albus searched his eyes, finding the memory with ease. “My Patronus! Yes! I knew in my heart what it meant! A phoenix of all things, rarer than any other!”

 

“A master of Death.”

 

“And my wand! Yew wood and the heartstring of a Horntail! Ollivander said it had been sitting unsold for almost a thousand years!”

 

“And your brother always refused to acknowledge how special you were.”

 

“He’s always been… jealous… I was just…”

 

“Ashamed to say so?” Gellert allowed Albus to have his epiphany, stroking his hand to comfort him. “Your family will try to send me away, Albus. Once they notice that I treat you as you deserve to be treated, they’ll want to tear us apart.”

 

To another man, the silence that followed would have been excruciating. Gellert, however, knew that, so long as he was patient, Albus would come around to his way of thinking.

 

“… I won’t let them. I love you too much for that.”