The Blood Pact
Albus' POV, August 9:
"Are you nervous?" Gellert asked Albus while they waited for Ariana in the barn.
"A little." Albus said, taking a soothing breath, and Gellert placed a hand on Albus' shoulder.
After a while, a blond girl appeared after having pulled the Cloak of Invisibility off her. On Ariana's shoulder, Fawkes the Phoenix stood protectively.
"Ariana-" Albus started, relieved, "I'm so glad you came. Just remember; If you feel like you don't want to do this anymore, just tell us, and we'll stop."
"Alright." Ariana said, trying to look confident. Gellert pulled up one of his charming smiles and bent down beside Ariana, giving her a chance to be the tallest.
"That is a pretty bird. Did you know your brother has a Phoenix as his Patronus?"
"No... It's a goat." Ariana said, and Albus smiled.
"Your other brother." Albus said.
"Oh, right."
"Albus will preform the Patronus Charm if that is okay with you." Gellert said, and backed off when Ariana said 'I suppose so'.
Albus focused on the memory when Albus and Gellert had kissed for the first time sober; up on a tree branch. And when the silvery Phoenix started flying near Ariana, Albus took great caution on her expression; Was she scared? Did this trigger her? Would she have another fit?
But she seemed calm as she watched the Patronus. Albus was so glad their plan had worked.
"Was that alright?" Gellert asked.
"Mhm."
"I'm so proud of-" Albus started before he got interrupted by Gellert.
"We could show you some more if you'd like."
Gellert ...
Albus spoke in Gellert's mind
... Except for her fits, she hasn't seen magic since she was six, we need to take it slow.
And if she doesn't want to, she'll tell us.
Gellert answered, and Albus, still unsure, trusted Gellert enough to let him go on. After Ariana nodded, Gellert made a flower crown out of thin air and handed it to Ariana, who backed away.
"It's okay Ariana." Albus said hurriedly, "You've done so good today, I'll escort you home now, and we can have some dinner."
"I'm sorry!" Ariana cried, "I wanted to make you happy, I don't want to be an Obscuriel anymore, but I don't like magic; I like flower crowns, but they're not supposed to appear out of nowhere!"
"Ariana, please calm down, no one is disappointed in you; You managed to have the Cloak of Invisibility over you, and you liked my patronus, no one espected you to do more."
After a while, Albus managed to calm Ariana down, and hinder another fit from erupting. He then took Ariana under the cloak, and departed from Gellert without saying goodbye.
I'm sorry.
Gellert spoke in Albus' mind.
That's alright, though I think we should expand the gaps in between our sessions from once every other day to once every fifth day.
***
Gellert's POV, August 13:
They were sitting in Tante Bathilda's living room, doing researching at tea time. Life here in Godric's Hollow were becoming increasingly tiring by the day.
Gellert had already been here three weeks more than what had been planned, but he did not complain -- Not with Albus by his side. Though the prospect of staying here for another, what, three months? Or whatever time it would take for Ariana to heal, made Gellert feel sick.
These last few days, Gellert had started to feel ashamed of himself -- Ashamed of the thoughts he couldn't stop himself from having; What if he would just take his things and set off without Albus?
Just when Gellert had gotten too bored for this unnecessary research, and was ready to ask Albus if he would join him for a walk, that familiar yet dreadful feeling came over him; A prickling feeling at his Third Eye, disrupting his peace:
The Elder Wand is spinning in the air... But not towards him, away from him... Away... Never to come back... It's over... The Elder Wand is no longer in his possession... His plan is ruined... Everything was in vain... He lost...
"No!" Gellert got out of the trance, but it still felt like he was there, "No..." Gellert sobbed.
"It's alright, it's alright." Gradually, Gellert was able to focus on Albus who was holding Gelleet in his arms, "What was it about?" Albus asked after a while.
"The Elder Wand. I saw it leaving me, along with all my dreams."
"But-" Albus looked bewildered, "There are ways of preventing visions from happening, right? I mean, all prophecies aren't fulfilled, are they?"
"No..." Gellert sighed.
"Did you see who overtook your wand?"
"No. And I cannot think of whom could've overpowered me either... The only person I know equal to me is looking right at me." Gellert said. Maybe it was rude, but Gellert couldn't stop himself -- Couldn't stop himself from worrying Albus might turn against him one day.
"I would never fight you..." Albus said weakly.
"I know." Gellert lied, "I just wish there was a way to make that resistant."
"There is always the Unbreakable Vow..."
"Or... A Blood Pact?"
***
Albus' POV, August 13:
"How much do you know of Blood Magic?" Gellert asked, making silver knives appear out of thin air.
"I'm assuming you want to make a Blood Troth?" Albus said, feeling excitement running through him.
"Indeed. Much more romantic than an Unbreakable Vow, don't you think?" Albus smiled admirably at Gellert as he passed one of the knives to Albus.
They were standing beside the window of Bathilda Bagshot's private library as they slowly run the knives down their palms. The sunlight glittered in the bright red of their blood. Simultaneously, Albus and Gellert brought their hands together, and when they did, Albus felt better than he had ever done.
Albus closed his eyes and intertwined their fingers at the sensation of Albus' blood meeting with Gellert's. The magic between them locked together, and when Albus felt like the performance was done, he opened his eyes to see a silver pendant concealing their blood. Gellert took hold of it in his hands.
"It's beautiful." Albus whispered, taking in the art of the Blood Troth, realizing Albus' and Gellert's signatures were carved in the silver.
"It is," Gellert said, pulling the pendant over his head, "Truly." and then Albus kissed him, and then Gellert pulled Albus' shirt off, and then love making could be heard from the library. How very lucky for Albus that Ms. Bagshot was away to buy groceries.
***
Gellert's POV, August 19:
Gellert was sitting on his bead, reading, when he heard a knock on his door.
"Nicht jetzt, Tante Bathilda, ich bin beschäftigt."
"Wie kannst du das deiner armen Tante sagen? Ich, der dir ein Dach über dem Kopf gegeben hat und tolle Kuchen backt?" Albus said in a poor imitation of Tante Bathilda.
"What's up with you?" Gellert chuckled, and pulled the door open wandlessly. Albus stepped into the room with a tray of cookies and a slice of cake.
"It's my birthday."
"What are you- Wait-" Gellert said confused, "It's your birthday?"
"Here," Albus said, passing him the cake and sitting on the bed, "I baked it for you."
"Why have you baked me a cake?" Gellert said, starting to get worried over Albus, but Albus only looked at Gellert amused.
"Because you didn't bake me a cake."
"I didn't know- I'm sorry and happy birthday, but you never told me your exact birthday."
"When's yours?" Albus took a cookie.
"November fifth."
"Will you eat that?" Albus asked when Gellert had dismissed his cake.
"I don't know-" Gellert said, and when Albus took back the angel cake to eat himself, Gellert asked, "Are you high?" But Albus only snorted and shook his head, "Well something's wrong with you." Gellert insisted.
"It's my birthday, and that's not a very kind thing to say on my birthday."
"I'm sorry. And sorry for not having a present, but I can think of something to make up for it." Gellert said, putting a hand on Albus' thigh, and Albus dismissed his cake immediately.