He is a great many things, but he's not a fool.
He knows it was never love.
Of course for his part it had been the greatest love of his life, but as he stands there looking out at a sea of faces, he is well aware that Albus never loved him.
It was Albus, in the end who turned out to be the fool, forever chasing a love that could never be his.
When the owls had stopped coming he'd gone to Godric's Hollow, and he'd seen him, Gellert Grindelwald.
Only once, but once was enough.
Grindelwald had only been a pale boy with a beautiful face then, but he'd had the power to destroy his world.
The beautiful destroyer of worlds.
His old, liver spotted hands shake as he unfurls the roll of parchment.
What business has he had for ever living so long?
He talks about their first meeting, and the quiet pensive boy who had been sorted into Gryffindor.
He is a Hufflepuff
He'd been popular in his own way, but nothing like Albus, everyone had liked him.
He skips over most of their youth, and some of it he's genuinely forgotten.
He's afraid of losing it all.
He pauses a wipes away a tear.
'Cry Baby' Doge, some of the Slytherins in their year had called him.
He had always been quick to tears, in the same way that Albus had been quick to raise his wand.
When had he know he was falling in love?
Had it been during their first kiss?
No.
Their first kiss had taken place in the Prefect's Bathroom, when Albus had leaned across and out of nowhere kissed him.
He can, even at his ripe old age, feel the pressure of Albus' lips against his own.
After that moment the kisses had been fairly regular, and neither boy had addressed what was happening.
It was just something they did.
They kept on doing it.
And then one day the kisses had changed and, and, and...
His old body can still feel the delicious pressure of another body against his.
Albus inside of him, and...
Even then he knew it was never love, not for Albus.
But having some small part of him was enough.
He'd had more of Albus than Grindelwald ever had.
After all he'd been there to pick up the pieces.
And there'd been so many pieces.
His eyes drift down towards the marble tomb.
But, now Albus has gone ahead.
Perhaps they'll meet again in the next life?
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
That journey is still waiting for him.
Is Albus finally waiting for him?
He doesn't think so, but he hopes.
He always hopes.
Perhaps.