Explosive.

Albus had plans for his adult life. The moment he was out of Hogwarts, he wanted to travel the world.

Then his mother had died, and his life had fallen apart. And now he was stuck here in the little cottage in Godrics Hollow, looking after his brother and sickly sister.

He hated it.

Ariana was volatile at best. She would seem normal, like everything was okay, until someone brought something up and made her explode. Quite literally. Albus and Aberforth often had to walk on eggshells around her, and Albus didn't like that. And he had a feeling that Ariana didn't either.

And she had to be monitored. All. The. Time. Albus and Aberforth had to spend hours on end just sitting with her, coaxing her to eat or sleep, careful not to prod too much lest she grow angry. Albus, for one, did not have the required patience for such a job, and often ended up passing the baton to Aberforth after a few hours.

Even so, it was tiring. And rather boring. All Albus wanted to do was travel. Yet, he was trapped here.

It was moments like these that made him resent his siblings.

The time that Albus got for himself, he would spend in his room or out in the backyard, simply sitting by himself with his books. It was his manner of relaxation, in the few moments that he had.

And it was in the middle of one of those moments that Bathilda Bagshot, their neighbour, peered in at the little gate.

"Albus! Do you have a moment, dear?"

Albus wanted to say no, I do not have a moment. Can't you see that I'm busy? But he held himself back, closing his book and plastering on a polite smile. "Of course."

Bathilda smiled and disappeared from sight, returning a few seconds later with someone by her side as she opened the gate and strolled in, and Albus found himself struck speechless.

He was tall and slender, with golden-blond hair that was perfectly set and icy blue eyes. He held himself with confidence, and when he gave Albus a quick smile of greeting, Albus felt his mild irritation completely melt away.

"This is my nephew, Gellert. I was hoping you could show him around." Bathilda said, and the man held out a hand for a shake.

"Gellert Grindelwald."

He had a slight accent, Albus noted. He wasn't from England. Did he go to Hogwarts? Probably not. Albus didn't remember seeing him around.

But as Grindelwald grinned at him, he found his thoughts melting away as he grinned back, giving his hand a firm shake.

"Albus Dumbledore. Nice to meet you."