Chapter 1
Albus saw the heartbreak he felt in his heart appear in the eyes from the man across from him. Nobody but Albus Dumbledore would have looked at Gellert and seen the devastation and overwhelming sadness and disappointment that overtook his expressions nearly as well as he did.
Albus felt his heart sink as he saw the two metal pieces broken on the floor, the blood that used to be captured between them, gone.
He did the first thing he thought of which was scooping up the pieces and sliding them into his pocket, doing his best to hold back tears. He looked into Gellerts eyes and for the first time in thirty-three years, he seemed like he was trying to do the same.
“May I come to Nurmengard? Within the day.” Albus asked quietly, making eye contact with the other.
Gellert slowly nodded his head and Albus suddenly felt the eyes of the crowd appear on him again.
He watched as Gellert said a few words to the crowd, then walked over to the edge and fell, presumably apparating. It took everything in his bones to not go and check for Gellerts safety.
Albus rushed over to Jacob and Queenie. “I’m deeply sorry to both of you. Jacob, do you feel any better?” Albus asked the two.
“Yeah, I feel fine, I’m just happy to be with Queenie again.” Jacob replied cheerily.
“Professor Dumbledore?” He hears from his right. Albus turns his head in the direction of the youngest Scamander.
“Yes, Newt?” He replies with his head nodding in Jacob and Queenies way as he walks over to Newt.
Newt was about to reply when his brother came right up next to him, irritated and confused. “What happened?!”
“Well, let’s just say that the blood pact will no longer be an issue.” He replied surprisingly calmly, retrieving the cold metal from his pocket, all the warmth that it once had had vanished.
The only reaction he caught sight of that he registered was Newts, his face showing pure sympathy and shock.
“What was it you need Mr. Scamander?” Albus asked once more, nodding to the youngest one, slipping the metal inside his pocket once more.
“Would- would you like to have tea with me after we leave, Professor?” He replied, refusing to make eye contact.
“Certainly.” Albus responded, “How about you come to Hogs Head as soon as you can.” And with that, he apparated to his brother's bar.
Once he had stepped into his bedroom door at the Hogs Head, he registered that he was shaking, the tears he was trying so hard to keep back, falling.
He thought about everything. About how the thing that had always withheld him from fighting his beloved is now gone. How he no longer has an excuse. He thought of the expression on Gellert’s face after the event, how he seemed so broken. He thought about the Summer of 1899, the making of the pact, the love of the two boys. He thinks of how he misses Gellert and hates that his former lover can’t see reason.
He lets himself cry and bleed tears for a few minutes longer before wiping his tears away, becoming composed, reminding himself that he will have a visitor shortly. The way he easily does this unsettled him because no one should be able to lock up their emotions so quickly.
He used a quick charm to clear his eyes of their puffiness and the red tint, before making his way downstairs to start tea for Newt and himself.
He cast a charm wandlessly to keep the cups of tea warm for as long as need be and sat down, bouncing his leg up and down anxiously.
He didn’t have to wait long before he heard a crack, seeing Newt appear in his vision.
Newt sat down in front of him, avoiding eye contact as usual.
“Was there something in particular you wanted to speak about?” Albus asked, lifting his cup to take a sip of the tea he had made.
“Yes, yes, sorry.” Newt stammered, “The bloodpact, is it really broken?”
Albus couldn’t find words to respond so instead he reached into his pocket and showed Newt the two pieces of metal, nodding his head slowly.
“Anything else?” Albus asked, desperate to find an excuse to dismiss Newt, not that he didn’t enjoy his company, but rather that he had an intense, yet familiar desire to apparate to Nurmengard that he was willing to give in to.
“Are you okay?” It may have only been three words but it was three he hadn’t heard in quite a while.
“No.” He answered honestly, “I’m not sure I ever was.”
Newt nodded slowly in response before dismissing himself, “I should go, Queenie and Jacob wanted to talk-.”
“I understand, thank you for stopping by.” And with that, Albus stood up to lead Newt to the door, opening it and closing it behind once Newt stepped out of it and gave a little wave goodbye.
Albus counted to ten, grounding himself before breathing deeply and apparting to Nurmengard.