Chapter 12
Albus glares at his brother at the door “what do you want?” He says rather harshly. He couldn’t believe he had the gall to show up here after what he did. He waits for an answer and after a few minutes of nothing but silence he goes to shut the door.
“No Albus, wait!” Aberforth holds the door open “I just…please I just need to talk to you” he looks at him with pleading eyes, he looks a mess. Albus sighs and looks at Theseus’ door “Fine, you get five minutes I have things to do” he opens the door and walks over to the boys room “baby, can you stay in here and play for a bit? Daddy needs to talk to someone” he kneels down and waits for Theseus to answer. The boy did a pretty good job at dressing himself, though Albus would need to fix the buttons to his shirt when he gets the chance, “ok daddy” he nods. Albus kisses his head and closes his room door.
Aberforth was looking at him “that’s a kid” he looked surprised, well it has only been two months since they have seen each other and he had acquired a 6 year old in that time. “Very observant” Albus crosses his arms and watches his brother fidget “well, out with it. I already am on edge with you here, I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time you say Gellert when he comes back”
Aberforth glares at him “so you are back with him” he goes to the window. Albus sighs and gets a glass of water “if that’s all you came here for then leave”. His brother quickly turns around “it’s not…I think I have a child”. Albus looks at him, attempting to see if he’s lying or not, how could his brother have a child. “well, a child on the way” Aberforth adds and looks at His brother.
Albus laughs a bit “please tell me you’re joking Aberforth” he watches as his brother remains serious “you aren’t…YOU’RE BLOODY 16 ABERFORTH!” he yells the furniture shaking a bit. He takes a breath and closes his eyes, calming down a bit “who in Merlin’s name did you get pregnant” he puts the glass down “and why did you come to tell me, you tried to murder me and did murder our sister”
“A girl from the hollow, her parents sent her away but not before she could tell me…I need help finding her” Aberforth looks at Albus, he knows he hurt him, and he knows he hates his choices but he’s still his brother. Albus sighs “give me something of hers, i'll see what I can do” he holds out his hand. A small pouch was placed in it “now go before Gellert gets back. I’m civil but if he sees you he won’t hesitate to kill you”
Aberforth goes to the door and opens it “the boy..”
“Theseus, we took him from Abusive muggles” Albus sits down “pardon me for not wanting you to meet him” he mumbles offhandedly as his brother shuts the door. Albus places the pouch down and lays on the couch, letting his hands start to shake. He had been hiding his fear of seeing his brother again and it hurt. It hurt being scared of his own family, being afraid to say no because of what could happen. He didn’t know how long it had been before little hands were on his face, pulling him out of his thoughts and he realized he was crying. “Apu doesn’t like daddy crying” Theseus climbs on the couch and lays with him, “I don’t like daddy crying.”
Albus smiles a bit and holds his son tightly, he closes his eyes and rubs the boys back “I love you Theseus..” he says quietly starting to fall asleep.
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Albus was floating in and out of sleep as he heard a door open and shut, then the sounds of little feet running somewhere. He curls up more on the couch and tries to fall back asleep instead of facing the real world and Gellerts worry disguised as anger.
“Hello Theseus, how was the park?” Gellert picks up the boy and spins him around a bit. He was in a good mood, the meeting went well and they decided on a place for the rally with little argument. “We didn’t go, daddy fell asleep” Gellerts smile fades a bit at the sentence, Albus seldom fell asleep in the middle of the day. “Do you know why?”
Theseus lays his head on his other fathers shoulder “someone that looked like daddy came when we were going to leave and daddy told me to stay in my room. Then they talked and daddy yelled, they were talking about a baby I think, then after the man left daddy laid on the couch and was shaking and crying. I tried to hug him to make him stop but he fell asleep and kept crying.” Theseus finishes his story and notices that Gellert looked very angry “apu?” He started to get scared thinking he did something wrong as his father brought him to his room “how about you play with your toys for a bit while apu checks on daddy. I need to talk to him.”
Gellert shuts the door and goes to the couch “Albus” he kneels down and shakes him a bit “Albus wake up” he watches as the Auburn man opens his eyes a bit, red and puffy obviously from crying. “What was your no good, murderous, micreant, pig of a brother doing here” he whispers harshly “and what possessed you to let him in” he watches as Albus grabs his hand a bit and sits up “I don’t know..” he whispers
Gellert quickly notices his love shaking a bit and trying not to tear up again. He sits on the couch “why did you let him in if even after hours of him being gone you’re still terrified” he turns Albus’ face to him and holds it gently, he couldn’t understand his lovers thought process at all sometimes and this is one of those times. “I don’t know…the rumors were true though…”
“What rumors?” Gellert lets Albus lay his head in his shoulder and closes his eyes “Albus talk to me” he says after a minute or two of waiting. Albus holds him tightly “about Aberforth dating a girl in the hollow…he got her pregnant and her parents sent her away….he came because he wanted to find her” Albus says quietly and feels the silent anger and worry rolling off Gellert almost suffocating him. Gellert holds Albus tighter “he can’t do tracking spells himself?” He hisses out.
Albus looks at him “he can only get a country unless dark magic is used. Using the dark arts is an immediate expulsion from Hogwarts.” He closes his eyes and lays his head on him again “I didn’t report Ariana’s death as a murder because it would’ve had aurors on you in an instant.”
Gellert smiles a bit and picks Albus up “even when you were convinced I murdered your sister you didn’t want me seen in jail. Why didn’t you report it after you found out?” He goes and lays Albus in their room, laying with him after taking off his tie and vest. Albus lays his head on the others chest “they wouldn’t believe it was the 16 year old brother of the victim they would’ve believed it was the boy who got expelled from a school for the dark arts because of using dark arts, because to the law that’s obviously a sign that you’re evil incarnate”. Gellert hums “it’s almost dinner, we have time to take Theseus to the park and find a café” Albus nods, yawning and closes his eyes “sounds good..”
Gellert smiles “or we can stay in for the night and you can sleep, you’re still tired.” He watches as Albus falls asleep and slowly gets out of bed, pulling the covers over him. He goes to Theseus’ room and sits with him “what do you want for dinner Theseus?” He picks him up and sets the boy on his lap. He bounces him as the boy continues to play “Theseus, answer Apu”
Theseus looks at him “I don’t know. Is daddy ok?” He lays his head down on him and hands him a toy. Gellert plays with him “of course daddy is ok, but can you do me a favor buddy,” he sees the boy nod and takes off a necklace he had next to the pact, putting it on Theseus “if that person ever shows up again and Apu isn’t with you two, hold onto that necklace and I will be there in an instant” he kisses Theseus’ head.
After their little talk Gellert gets up with the boy and orders their dinner “let’s go get cleaned up” he takes him to the bathroom and sets the boy on the counter, starting the sink “wash your hands Theseus” Gellert washes his own and uses a cloth to wash his face. He smiles a bit as the young boy tries to grab the cloth “do you want to wash your face too baby” he helps him wash his face.
When they go back out their plates were set and Gellert sets Theseus down at his spot “you can start eating while I get daddy” he kisses his head then goes back into his and Albus’ room, sitting on the bed “Albus, dinner is here” he whispers in his ear. Albus mumbles and opens his eyes a bit “how long was I asleep?” He sits up and stretches, letting Gellert move his hair around “only 30 or so minutes, enough time for me to clean Theseus up and order dinner”
Albus goes out with him “hi Theseus” he hugs the boy and kisses his head. Theseus smiles as Albus sits down “really good daddy, and apu gave me a present!”. Albus hums and looks at the necklace “oh that’s really special, that’s Apus’ special necklace I’ve never seen him with it off” he starts eating his food and smiles at Gellert “so I take it that the meeting went well”
Gellert nods and finishes his bite of food before speaking, “it did, we decided on Salem for our first rally, specifically behind gallows hill.” Albus looks at his lover and smiles, finishes his food “that's Amazing, and a historical site”
Gellert nods and gives Albus some more food “it is, tragic but powerful. Those woods behind the hill are full of powerful magic”